Omolola Oloworaran, the Director-General of the National Pension Commission, urges women within the pension and finance industries to actively pursue leadership roles instead of expecting these chances to come their way unprompted.
At the formal introduction of the Women in Pension Network, the Director-General of PenCom highlighted the importance of women securing their position in leadership via competency, toughness, and outstanding performance.
WOPEN is an innovative program aimed at supporting and promoting women within the pension sector via mentoring, coaching, and networking opportunities. This inaugural event was organized by the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria.
During her keynote speech, Oloworaran stated, "Our purpose today is not to seek handouts—we women generally don’t. Rather, we aim to claim what we’ve diligently strived for and genuinely deserve. A place at the table won’t be bestowed upon us; it has to be secured through dedication and unmistakable excellence."
This gathering assembled female experts from the pensions sector with the goals of promoting leadership growth and providing mentoring opportunities, all while pushing for increased involvement of women in making key decisions.
The PenCom Director-General emphasized the obstacles faced by women in this field, acknowledging their vital contributions to maintaining the industry’s stability even as they remain disproportionately absent from senior executive posts. He underscored that true leadership involves placing highly capable women in significant roles rather than merely meeting numerical targets.
"Inclusivity goes beyond putting women into leadership roles; it’s about appointing those women who are well-prepared, skilled, and capable of leading effectively. The most effective method to overcome obstacles is by being exceptionally good so that people cannot afford to overlook our contributions," she stated.
She additionally demanded an end to detrimental rivalry among women, encouraging them to uplift each other instead.
She stated, "Whenever a woman ascends, she should lift the rest along with her. It’s crucial to foster an environment of mentoring, cooperation, and fearlessness when acknowledging our successes."
The head of the department emphasized the significance of ongoing personal growth, encouraging women to stay ahead of industry developments, refine their abilities, and establish robust professional connections.
She turned to the sole man at the gathering and called upon him as an example, emphasizing her plea for male advocates of gender inclusion. She articulated that genuine leadership means fostering environments where both genders can thrive equally.
"We require additional male supporters—individuals who will elevate women’s voices and establish environments genuinely suited for us," she emphasized.
The introduction of WOPEN coincides with the 2025 celebration of International Women’s Day, themed 'Accelerate Action.' This theme emphasizes the necessity of taking decisive measures to promote gender inclusivity and equality in leadership roles.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Joy Ojakovo, the Vice President of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, stated that the initiation of WOPEN was motivated by the necessity to enhance the presence and influence of women within the pension sector.
"WOPEN serves as a platform where women can develop their leadership skills, empowering themselves through learning and obtaining sponsorships. Additionally, they have the opportunity to mentor one another since, as the adage states, your financial value is closely tied to your connections," she explained.
Regarding the specific objectives that WOPEN aims to accomplish, Ojakovo stated that having an equal split between men and women in leadership roles within the pension sector was quite reasonable.
"If we examine the pension sector, the proportion of women holding leadership roles remains quite small. While there are indeed female executive directors, this is an opportune moment to begin grooming young females. We should equip these ladies with essential skills and knowledge, encouraging them to tackle demanding assignments rather than mundane tasks, as this hands-on approach fosters the necessary experience for leadership. Investing in younger generations today ensures their readiness for future responsibilities; thus, when they mature professionally, they'll likely lead the field, achieving our current objective of equal gender representation in leadership," she stated.
Yetunde Oni, the managing director of Union Bank, spoke during an event about the necessity of tailoring human resource strategies to address the specific needs of women. She emphasized the importance of doing so without compromising overall productivity and company goals.
She stated, "Given how long we've been overlooked, we need to make sure that women's contributions are acknowledged, compensated fairly, and advanced in our workplaces."
Oni emphasized the implementation of an enhanced maternity leave policy at the bank, stating that female leaders should take actions that create a more accommodating work environment for women.
"We hold different leadership roles, so how do we examine the policies within our organization to ensure women’s inclusion? We must review the structure and foundations," she stated.
The CEO of UBA Pension Custodian, Blessing Ogwu, encouraged women to leverage networking events and mentorship programs to enhance their prospects for success in the industry.
Olayinka Ajayi, who leads Zenith Pensions as their Executive Director, urged women to overcome both self-inflicted and societal obstacles to achieve their true potential.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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