The president of the Nigerian stock Exchange, (NSE) Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has urged Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ) to sustain efforts geared towards raising the level of women participation in the economy, as this was the best time for making investments in the country.
Daily Times reports that Aig-Imoukhuede made the call at the WIMBIZ 14th Annual Lecture held at Shell Hall, Muson Centre Onikan, with this year’s theme as ‘’Thriving in Tough Times: Navigating Challenging Environments.”
In his address, the guest speaker recalled that the idea behind the Annual lecture was to discuss a broad range of issues centered on a cutting edge theme that is topical and relevant, stressing that women needed to see this time as the best time for investment.
Aig-Imoukhuede advised women to set goal for themselves and have a clear cut vision. He said women should not be perturbed by the ongoing economic challenges but use the opportunity to develop more streams of income for themselves instead of giving up. ‘What I am not flexible about is that when challenges scale up, I then abandon my plans.
When challenges become more serious, I have to build up myself to match my challenge,” he said. Aig- Imoukhuede said sometimes women are better in management jobs but lose focus due to fear. “I have noticed and observed in life that many at times women that are definitely more capable than men to achieve some certain goals, but choose to opt out because of the size and nature of challenges that we are facing. Fear of the unknown, fear of micro support system, I am a woman I cannot do this.” He said.
During the question and answer session, the guest speaker briefly dwelled on the Nigerian economy and the reason for the high inflation. Imoukehuede explained that the reason for the high exchange rate of naira to dollar is due to the crash in the price of crude oil. Noting that it was impossible for Nigeria to escape inflation because 90 per cent of Nigeria’s income is dependent on oil.
He stated that Nigeria would have to increase exportation of agricultural commodities and reduce importation. When a delegate asked his vision for the stock exchange, Imoukehuede stressed that his position in the stock exchange is that of the president, more like a board chairman and not the director general. He however said that he hoped that more Nigerians would participate in the stock exchange.
He also disclosed plans to begin a foundation that empowers women who have good business idea. He commended WIMBIZ for organising the lecture which attracted over 700 delegates from Nigeria.
Also present at the event were, the commissioner of commerce and industry Lagos, Mrs. Olusola Senapon Oworu, the managing director of access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, founder and CEO of terra KultureBolanle Austen-Peters. Managing director of Accenture.
