IWD: NBCC urges action on women’s economic inclusion

The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce called for stronger policies and deliberate action to expand women’s participation in Nigeria’s economy, as business leaders and policymakers gathered to mark International Women’s Day.

Speaking at the chamber’s 2026 event in NBCC Plaza, Lagos, its president and chairman, Prince Abimbola Olashore, said empowering women is critical for economic growth and sustainable enterprise.

“No economy can truly thrive without the full participation of women,” Olashore said, adding that creating equitable opportunities for women is both a social responsibility and an economic necessity.

The event, themed “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” brought together corporate executives, investors, and policymakers to examine barriers to gender equality in business and leadership.

Keynote speaker Kofo Akinkugbe, founder and executive vice chairman of SecureID Group, said women entrepreneurs often face structural biases that go beyond legal frameworks, including limited access to capital and exclusion from decision-making networks.

Akinkugbe, who founded SecureID in 2005 to produce smart cards and digital identity products, said the company now has the capacity to manufacture more than 200 million cards annually and exports to 21 African countries.

She noted that gender imbalance remains stark in Nigeria’s political leadership, with women holding only about 3.9 percent of seats in the National Assembly.

“We cannot talk about the future of Nigeria while leaving our girls behind,” she said, pointing to the high share of girls among out-of-school children and the need for greater access to financing for women-led businesses.

Akinkugbe urged governments and companies to move beyond discussions to measurable steps, including funding women-owned enterprises, increasing procurement from female-led firms, and expanding representation in leadership roles.

“Action is what separates conference discussion from actual change,” she said.

The chamber said supporting women in leadership and enterprise is essential for inclusive economic growth, noting that businesses, investors, and policymakers must collaborate to remove systemic barriers and expand opportunities for women and girls.