Stakeholders have expressed concern over lack of changes in organisational policies that are preventing women from contributing optimally to the Nigerian economy.
Speakers during the Lagos Career Fair, organised by Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, Jobberman Nigeria, said women faced institutional barriers to attain growth in their professional careers.
Gender and Inclusivity coordinator at Jobberman Nigeria, Esther Adelusi, noted in a statement that women contributed immensely to the society. She, however, noted that poor support and lack of representation in the spaces that matter have hindered their growth in their professional careers.
She added that female participation in the labour force in Nigeria had witnessed a steady decline, reaching a record low of 43.78 per cent in 2023, compared to about 57 per cent in 2010 for women aged 15 years and older
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“While the numbers do not pose an immediate concern, further analysis of female participation in the informal sector reveals that out of the 43.78 per cent of women in Nigeria’s labour force, a significant percentage is engaged in informal labour with limited prospects for advancement and economic prosperity.”
“Childcare is a major concern for working mothers, and that is why we provided free creche for mothers with children aged 0 to 5 years at the career fair,” she said.
Speaking on the decision to create a platform that recognises and addresses the challenges women and persons with disability face while seeking jobs, she said Jobberman wanted organisations to model this system in the workplace and implement policies that promote gender equity, enabling more women to make meaningful contributions to our growing economy.