Break that glass ceiling!

Globally, there is a new song on the lips of everyone. It is the voice of support, the voice that opines that men and women were created equal to achieve their dreams, beat all odds and succeed at all cost in a healthy manner with one objective; to drive change in the society, the corporate organization, the world and ensure that businesses and political organizations sustain the momentum for their continued existence. However, in recent times, there hasn’t been awareness as such as this.

Although the call for gender equality has been on the front burner, it is an obvious fact that a society that doesn’t advocate for the empowerment of her women folks cannot grow above the thin margins of societal deprivation, economic stagnation, and ceaseless poverty.

Charles Habib Malik, a Lebanese academic, diplomat, and philosopher explain that "The fastest way to change society is to mobilise the women of the world". This holds true especially in contemporary times when women’s voice needs to be heard at the highest decibel. However, there are some challenges that tend to scruple the grandiose initiatives of well-meaning corporate organizations trying to put forth their women folk in higher roles.

Using Nigeria as a case study, the time is right for fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers to start encouraging their daughters and wards to venture into opportunities, roles and careers that were once seen to be a "theatre" meant only for men. It is time to change the narrative and let these young women know that it is never a wrong ambition wanting to be a Structural Engineer, Automobile Technician, Motion Graphics Artist, Wood Work Specialist, Foreman etc, It is the time to engage our women in meaningful ventures and vocations that will see them go the extra mile, do the impossible, reinforce the positive notion and beliefs that have been ingrained in them that what a woman sets out to do, it becomes almost successful once you commit yourself to it. It is time to give our women the platform which will usher in a new era of economic possibilities for them. This is the time, not yesterday, not tomorrow.

According to a report by McKinsey and Company, titled “The business of empowering women”, the report indicated that growth in developing countries and emerging markets is important to their company’s success over the next ten years hence; investing in women supports such growth. The good news, however, is that for this change to happen, the first foundation – Education, has to be properly structured to give the ladies, the required technical, vocational and special education they might need.

Luckily, in Nigeria, there has been an increase in the use of web-based learning system which promotes learning at self-paced which means that anyone can achieve their dreams with proper focus. Skilled women with jobs enjoy meaningful status in their communities and countries. It is believed, that these group of literate and working class professionals are healthier and more productive.

Regardless of the strides being made about how women can move ahead in their career, a major question arises, What does women economic empowerment entail? Women’s economic development is concerned about helping women develop marketable skills, helping them have access to primary, secondary as well as technical education.

• In a nutshell, the following initiatives are part of what it takes to empower and develop the womenfolk to add more balance to our imbalanced society.
• Creating access and opportunities for women to acquire vocational, technical, and entrepreneurial skills.
• Opportunities to develop life, financial literacy, family, and household management skills.
• Helping women find, and retain employment
• Access to employment opportunities, free from discrimination, harassment and violence
• Access to capital, credit, loans, specialised training and other resources needed to start enterprises.
• Access to quality healthcare, career support and leadership development.

According to Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer and Author of “Lean in”, Sheryl Sandberg, "A truly equal world would be one where women ran half our countries and companies and men ran half our homes.

This in her submission would make the world a better place. The laws of economics and studies of diversity reveal that if we tapped into the entire pool of human resources and talent, our collective performance globally would improve. She further says that conditions for all women will improve when there are more women in leadership roles giving strong and powerful voice to their needs and concerns; one of the ways to break the glass ceiling! Glass ceiling refers to an unacknowledged and ultimately illegal barrier to advancement, especially for women

The term glass ceiling dates back to the 1980’s.  In many professions, a woman cannot break through the glass ceiling to the upper level of management. One of the ways women can break the glass ceiling is by mentorship, proper specialized education and speaking up for each other, lending a supporting hand to another in need.

Dear woman, you are required in this time and in this century to stand up, be passionate about what you do and go the extra mile, the glass ceiling only exists when there are obstacles but also remember that these obstacles make you better, resilient and better.

Peter Sand, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Bank says that “Women who are economically empowered are an incredibly powerful source of development”.

This is your season woman. Achieve. Overcome. Beat the odds. Change the game. This is how to break the glass ceiling!

Cheers!

About the Author

Chukwuka Anslem Ozor is the Programme Manager at Apostles in The Marketplace. He is an Incubator Africa 2014 fellow and a mentor at Cheri Blair Foundation for Women & Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Foundation. Chukwuka holds a Bachelors degree in Petroleum & Gas Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt and certificates in Stakeholder Engagement &Sustainability in Project Management from the Lagos Business School.