By Rukayat Moisemhe
Economic experts have called for deliberate actions, stronger policies and institutional reforms to advance women’s rights and deepen their participation in the nation’s development.
They made the call at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) International Women’s Day (IWD) event on Thursday in Lagos with the theme: “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”
The Founder of SecureID Group, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, said women’s rights should be inherent and not dependent on gender-based validation or societal approval.
Akinkugbe said she had spent more than two decades navigating the realities between the ideals of rights, justice and action within the business environment.
She recalled that after a successful banking career in the late 1990s, she ventured into entrepreneurship in digital technology and founded SecureID in 2005 after identifying opportunities in the digital identity, payment and communication space.
According to her, the company later established a smart card manufacturing plant in Nigeria, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.
She said that the journey exposed her to systemic biases that often questioned women’s competence and place in business.
“Rights must be inherent simply because we are human and not conferred on the basis of gender.
“It should not be a favour and women should not have to fight or prove that they are worthy,” she said.
Akinkugbe said she chose not to defend her right to operate in the sector but rather focused on building credible evidence through innovation, technical expertise and business performance.
She said SecureID currently has the capacity to produce more than 200 million cards annually, with manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and Kenya and exports to 21 African countries.
She added that the company had obtained global certifications from institutions such as Visa, Mastercard and GSMA, while maintaining an inclusive workplace culture.
Akinkugbe, however, said gender inequality remained evident in leadership representation and access to opportunities.
She noted that women accounted for only about 3.9 per cent representation in Nigeria’s National Assembly, adding that the situation underscored the need for deliberate policy interventions.
She also expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school girls in the country, stressing that Nigeria could not secure its future while leaving girls behind in education.
“Leadership transformation demands deliberate steps to address these gaps.
“Access to capital for women in business, both at startup and at scaling stages, remains a critical area that requires urgent attention,” she said.
Akinkugbe said meaningful progress required concrete actions such as dedicated funding, inclusive procurement practices and measurable policies that support women’s participation in economic and leadership spaces.
Speaking earlier, the President of NBCC, Mr Abimbola Olashore, said the theme of the event underscored the urgency of moving beyond conversations toward concrete action in advancing gender equality.
Olashore said International Women’s Day served both as a celebration of women’s achievements and a call to responsibility for governments, institutions and businesses.
He noted that women had made significant contributions across sectors including business, governance, entrepreneurship, technology and community leadership.
According to him, empowering women is not merely a social obligation but an economic necessity.
“No economy can truly thrive without the full participation of women.
“When women succeed, businesses grow, and when businesses grow, nations prosper,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Programmes Committee of NBCC, Mr Tajudeen Ahmed, said achieving gender equality required sustained commitment and purposeful leadership.
Ahmed said the chamber recognised the transformative role women played in shaping economies, strengthening institutions and inspiring future generations.
He reiterated the chamber’s commitment to promoting inclusive economic growth by supporting women in business and leadership.
According to him, empowering women remains a strategic imperative for sustainable economic development.(NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
