#Gbam: Message to the Females from Awosika

The Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, has advised female youths not to allow their male counterparts or their environment to push them to the background, saying time has come for them to be courageous and bold.

Speaking at a programme, tagged: ‘Proverbs 31 Woman Conference 2016,’ organised by the female students of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, recently, Awosika said the major limitation that females of today needed to overcome was their mindset.

“Ladies need to have full understanding of who they are because there is nothing anybody can do for you if you don’t have courage and boldness to take steps. If you hold back and allow yourself to be intimidated then you would remain in one place,” she added.

Awosika, who is the first female chairman of the bank, said even though there were cultures that were detrimental to the rising of the girl child, female youths should take a cue from the fact that there are women who rose above limitations to occupy high offices, including female vice-chancellors and chief executive officers, among others.

She said, “The more examples we have the easier it becomes. That is why people like us need to share our experiences with them. Some people say it is difficult to occupy a high office and still keep your home, but I’ve been married for 25 years and I’m doing well in my work. I have children and I know I’m a good mother.”

So, basically, women, especially the youth, need to develop strategies that would work for them. When you deliver value, nobody can argue with it.”

She also charged them to be careful when it comes to making the choice of a partner, saying wrong choices had left many “vibrant and promising” women derailed. “It is a decision you cannot make with emotion. It has to be a pragmatic decision because your entire life would depend on it. So, marry a man you can trust with your life,” she added.

The vice chairman, female, student council of the institution, Oluwatofunmi Onaolapo, in her remarks, said the essence of the programme was to teach the female students godly wisdom from Proverbs 31 and to inspire them on how to be of value to themselves and the society.