FIDA tasks women lawyers on taking leadership positions
By Adenike Ayodele
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called for increased participation of women in leadership roles within the legal profession.
Chairperson of the Ikeja branch of FIDA, Mrs Nnenna Eze, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an event organised by the association on Thursday in Lagos.
NAN reports that event was to celebrate lawyers who had championed the cause of women and children within the Nigerian legal space.
During the ceremony, some legal practitioners were decorated as matrons and patrons of the branch.
Eze identified cultural and institutional stereotypes as major factors which hindered the advancement of women in law.
She urged women to make themselves relevant, by aspiring for leadership positions, especially at the national level of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“With the forthcoming NBA general elections where we have females vying for positions, we hope things will change.
“FIDA is ready to support any woman contesting for any position; when we have women in positions of decision making, things will begin to change,” she said.
On her part, the immediate past Country Representative of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Mrs Efosa Etomi, underscored the need for women to continue their pursuit of excellence.
Etomi, who was decorated as matron of FIDA Ikeja branch, noted that affirmative measures such as gender quotas might help in bridging the gap in representation.
“If women can rise up to being their best, I believe we will get what we should get; I do not believe we should get it just because we are women,” she said.
She added that when women strive to be the best, there will be no other choice but to “give it to them”, since they have proven themselves worthy.
In the same vein, a former Chairperson of the Lagos branch of FIDA, Mrs Philomena Nneji, highlighted the need for women lawyers to step forward, and actively seek leadership roles.
Nneji, who was also decorated as a matron, urged female lawyers to show more interest in leadership roles by contesting for elective positions within legal forums.
“What will help to improve this gap is for our female colleagues to come out the more, because, the contest will always be among those who are able to come out,” she said.
She referred to the recent election of the NBA Lagos branch, which saw the emergence of Mrs Uchenna Ogunedo-Akingbade as first female chairperson of the branch.
She described same as being a testament to the fact that women can lead effectively when given the right opportunity.
On his part, convener of the Fight Against Corruption and Indiscipline in the Judiciary (FIACIJ), Mr Adebayo Akinlade, noted that there is a long-standing disparity in the participation of both genders in the legal profession.
He said that although women have contributed significantly to the legal profession, they were however, not often recognised with leadership positions.
“What we have seen over time in the profession is that men take the titles, but women do the work,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the trend was gradually changing, since women are increasingly taking up leadership roles.
NAN reports that the event brought together some past and present officials of the Nigerian bar, as well as several legal women forums in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.com.ng)
Edited by Sandra Umeh
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