British and Canadian high commissions in Nigeria fund second glass ceiling conference

CANADIAN and British high commissions in Nigeria have funded the second edition of the glass ceiling conference titled Break the Boardroom: Nigerian Women Taking Business Leadership due to take place on March 6.

Organised to discuss peculiar issues that deal with female inclusion across the Nigerian socio-economic and political ecosystem, the conference aims to also proffer possible solutions to the already identified problems in order to promote gender inclusivity. This Glass Ceiling Conference is a platform designed to x-tray the issues of female inclusion, particularly within the nation’s business and political landscape.

Efe Ukala, the founder of ImpactHER, has been billed to serve as the keynote speaker of the conference in recognition of her support for female businesses across the African continent. her vision aligns with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, which focuses on recognising the immense contribution of women and girls around the world as well as highlighting their efforts to build a sustainable future for all.

This conference is one of the multiple social-led initiatives of Nigeria Info that seeks to provide a viable platform to promote the advocacy of women empowerment nationwide. Serge Noujaim, the chief executive of Cool FM, Wazobia FM and Nigeria Info, said that the Glass Ceiling Conference is a platform that seeks to drive discussions around women empowerment to bridge the gender business gap within the Nigerian socio-economic terrain.

Mr Noujaim added: “We, as a leading brand, recognise that Nigerian women play a critical role in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.  This is because research findings from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics indicate that 41% of women across the country own businesses that could either be regarded as SMEs or MSMEs.

"It is on this backdrop that we plan to support the businesses of Nigerian women by coming up with practical solutions that address the challenges encountered at the various stages of the business ownership cycle. This will invariably serve as a means for us to contribute our quota towards the economic growth and development of the country.”

Sandra Ezekwesili, the chief executive of Nigeria Info, added: “We, as a brand, understand the need to champion the advocacy of women empowerment across the country. This is because we have recognised the fact that Nigerian women play an integral role in contributing to the socio-economic growth and development of the country, particularly at the grassroots level.

"It is on this premise that we believe the Glass Ceiling Conference will serve as a viable means to address the pain points of Nigerian-business women as well as providing them valuable business tips that could upscale their business operations. The Glass Ceiling Convention is one of the multiple social-led initiatives of Nigeria Info that seeks to provide a viable platform to promote the advocacy of women empowerment nationwide through its partnership with recognised international institutions."