Dr Rachael Adewumi is the Woman Leader, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Traders ((NANTs). In this interview with ABBANOBI-EKU ONYEKACHI in her office, while observing International Women’s Day (IWD) over the weekend, she believes that training, empowering the girl child and the women respectively will boost the economy. Excerpts.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) is Invest in the Women, Accelerate Progress. Can you speak on it?
Yes the theme is not only timely, but also accurate, because when you invest in the women, you have invested in the society, because women are productive. Whatever you give to a woman, she would multiply it and give it back to you, unlike the men who would go and squander it. So let women be invested in, especially serious traders among them. Let them be given their right positions at the national level, for prudence.
Talking about investing in women, how can this be done?
There is s lot of able bodied women in the streets, who are willing to work, but they couldn’t due to no encouragement and most of them are from poor family. Like in my Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Takem Empowerment Initiatives (TEIs), we empower women and the girl child and also extended such to the widows.
In some villages, you will see women who are willing to work and need help, but no one to do that. And some of them who have finished learning a trade, but no one to help them start up, so as to enable her provide her immediate need.
To boost the economy, let government train, empower those who are willing to learn. For those who are not willing and serious to learn, let the government mentor, training and give them capercity building and let them to know the importance of doing something and they can then change and they will know that there is integrity in labour.
Another group are those who have interest in schooling, learning, and couldn’t achieve their aims and objectives. Let them be encouraged, because it will help the economy. There are another categories that have finished school and learned, but nobody to set them up, let them be sought out and fixed up.
You will see willing graduates who don’t know what to do, these category of people should be encouraged. Some of them are willing to become entrepreneurs, but they need starter packs. Unfortunately, nobody is talking about them and they are rusting sway.
However, another group is the mothers that go out very early in the morning everyday to the bush to get farm produce to sell. With little monetary empowerment, they will boost their businesses and economic generally.
Due to high cost of fuel, prices of goods and services have skyrocketed. Initially, where we were going to with N10,000, you can’t go to with N50, 000 now, not to talk of the price you used to buy items with. So implore the government to look into all these problems and cushion the effect of hardship in Nigeria. So if they can train and give the girl child proper training and backing, the result will be a boost to the economy.
Some of them have been suffering from mental disorder as a result of hardship and frustration. I also advise the government to deploy services of psychiatrists and psychologists to rehabilitate them to normalcy and also resustain them and give them capacity building and it will make them know that they can be useful to themselves and Nigeria and that there is integrity in labour and that God loves them.
Other group are those who cry day and night, looking for help, but couldn’t get anybody to help them, including their relations. These set of girls are educated; have handwork and are serious to engage themselves in something, but no assistance from either the government or well to do individuals.
However, I commend the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dr Uju Kennedy – Ohanenye for her plans to empower practical women traders. As I am talking to you, she has launched it and it will go a long way to boost the economy.
Could you illustrate how the women have been contributing to the economy?
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