Women must dedicate themselves to technology—Dr Magoro Bilmor
An International Relations Consultant and politician, Dr Bilkisu Magoro Bilmor, has asked women to dedicate themselves to change, to make it in the world of work.
She said a World Bank publication this year on the future of work, showed that technology was one of the driving forces of work currently and in the future.
"Be prepared professionally in the areas you are in.
Empower and develop yourselves," she told participants in an International Women's Summit on "Leadership training and sustainable funding for women in business."
It was organised by the Association of Women in Media (ASWIM), Empowering Strategies for Health and Development (EMSTRAD), an indigenous Ghanaian NGO, the Expat Professional and Business Women’s Network (EPBWN), an advocacy group based in Korea, and the Ghana Technology University College (GTUC).
Teaching
Dr Bilmor, a Nigerian politician, said by dedicating themselves to their work, regardless of the challenges, women were teaching the young generation of women and girls that there were no options, if they gave up.
Giving the keynote address at the summit, she urged all women to be tenacious in their various fields, even if they failed.
She said she had vied for an elective political position in Nigeria on a number of occasions, but was yet to be successful, pointing out that,she was going on until she won.
Affirmative
A Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Freda Prempeh, in her statement, said cognisant of the transformational roles of women in society, Ghana had rolled out policies and legislative interventions.
Among them was the Affirmative Action Bill.
The minister, whose statements were read on her behalf by the Graduate Studies Director of the GTUC, Dr Esther Asiedu, said a quota system was also being thought through for the legal and political professions.
No limits
The President and Founder of the Expat Professional and Business Women’s Network (EPBWN), Princess Nwakego Ibrahim-Pam, for her part, said women could have a good professional, social and family life all together, with no limitations.
While the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EMSTRAD, Yvonne Prempeh, welcomed participants to an engaging summit, the Registrar of the GTUC, Dr Juliana Owusu Ansah, took the opportunity to tell young participants about the training at the college.
Health
The opening of the summit was followed by a panel discussion on "Women leaders: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance.”
The Director of News at the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mrs Mavis Kitcher, advised women to work hard and ensure they had all their bases covered.
A Nigerian Pharmacist and designer, Mrs Idorenyin Anthony Nyong; a lecturer at Asheasi University, Ms Rose Dodd, and the Graduate Studies Director of the GTUC, Dr Asiedu, were other panellists, who shared various ideas on work/life balance.
Writer's E-mail: caroline.boateng@graphic.com.gh