The President of the Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW), Prof. Comfort Onifade says tackling the global gender gap to encourage inclusivity has been found to be capable of boosting global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Prof. Onifade made this disclosure in her Welcome Address at the occasion of the NAUW Hybrid International Conference with the theme: ‘Gender Inclusivity and Sustainable Development’, held at the New Senate Chamber of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.
According to her, Mckinsey Global Institute in 2022 had mapped-out 15 indicators of gender equality, under work and society, adding that gender equality under the two indicators was correlated, based on the Institute’s analysis of 125 countries.
The don, however, noted that the Conference was set-up to remind the Association members the place of gender inclusivity in sustainable development, stressing that all stakeholders needed to work together to maintain and accelerate progress on gender equality.
In her Keynote Address, the Deputy Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, Kenya, Dr. Michele Mbo’o-Tchouawou said social inclusion was an important matter in the quest for sustainable agricultural development in Africa and the world at large.
During her lead paper presentation, the President, Graduate Women International, Switzerland, Dr. Patrice Wellesley-Cole, said the Conference was timely, as it coincided with the World International Day of the Girl-Child, recognising the challenges being faced by the girl-child around the world, and calling for a policy direction on diversity, equality and inclusivity for female folks, who had been marginalised, under-represented or subjected to discrimination.
Earlier in his Address, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde said NAUW is a notable Association on campus, stressing that it had earned the respect of the University Management over the years.
Prof. Kehinde, however, reiterated that the Management had not been found wanting in trying to carry along, in terms of inclusivity of the women folks in the University, saying they had not just been involved, but had proven themselves to be capable.
