The Director General and CEO of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Dr. Sally Uwechue Mbanefo is one lady that is passionate about Nigeria. The Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State born lawyer, banker and tourism administrator explained why women in leadership positions should help other women to make it in life. Read on…
“Oh, I think Nigerian women have been wonderful. Our women are just awesome. I admire Nigerian women a lot and I am one of them. There are women who became big before now and I admire them. They give me inspiration. Ronke Fatade, my first boss in Abacus Bank before I joined IMB, inspired me a lot. Women have always inspired me and I think they are doing well. We are doing well and the sky is the limit. My advice is that every woman who is in power, you must empower more women when you are in power. Don’t sit on that seat and build it alone. No, do something good to help women. You must open doors for other women.
When I was in Lafarge, I was the only woman in the whole Africa to be on the executive position. That was in Lafarge WAMCO Cement. Even in WAMCO itself in its 45 years of existence, at that time, I was the first woman to be in the executive. And when I got in there, I made sure that the door was opened for more women. I opened the door so much for women that I got a query for so doing. They petitioned Paris, France, saying ‘look, this woman is only bringing in women into the company.’ But it is our duty, for God has given you the opportunity to help others. I don’t mean women who are useless, but competent women who can deliver.
Even our men are dynamic intellectually as well. They are so dynamic that you do not have a shortage of them. Our men should be celebrated, for you cannot compare them with South African men. You can’t compare Nigerian men to Black American men. No, you cannot. Our men are on the top of the line men. So, we have to compete with them. There are not many of us who can scale through, but we are making it. In the banking sector which is a major industry women have been able to make their mark there. Those who are in the political arena are also doing well. Yes, historically, Queen Amina and others are my warriors. I am a warrior myself, for I live for the poor. Just like Moremi of Ife and Amina of Zaria. These are women that inspired me and so I feel I am the Queen Amina and Moremi of this century. And I want women’s presence to be felt, the way they did in history in their time.”
– Culled from The Nation