Women Empowerment, The Next Big thing

We have seen firsthand that investing in women empowerment is good for the economy and for business.

Women and Girls are one of the most powerful catalysts for change in the world today. In spite of this, the African woman continues to face not just an epidemic of poverty, but also strenuous and heavy work load. Women play a very critical role in food processing and production. Be that as it may,  their right to access, use, control and ownership of land  and other essential resources are limited in certain parts of Africa.

When it comes to decision-making processes, rural women in these areas. The bad reality of work is of slaving excessive hours, most time in difficult and unsafe working conditions, for wages that are not even enough to meet their daily need for survival.

Women account for majority of workers in the supply chains. Their contribution is very important. More can therefore be done to improve women’s rights and make female workers more visible within supply chains. These can be done by influencing policy, we must go beyond legal compliance and put in place strategies to enhance and improve working conditions and opportunities for women

Promoting gender equality in our society is not just a matter of human rights but also a fundamental condition for sustainable social and economic development. We must make sure women and girls have full and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in politics, economic religion and public life.

Collaboration in policy making between businesses and NGOs is essential. Training (both formal and informal) is also needed. Business cases should be provided for investment in women’s health and empowerment programs especially to rural women.

Why is empowering women workers important?

1. Women start small business faster than men. According to Forbes prediction, women will create over half of the 9.72 million new small-business jobs by 2018. This will range from home-based micro-businesses to small startups and shops.
2. Insane innovations come from women. Some notable innovations include:
   – the pee-powered generator built by a group of 14-year-old girls in Nigeria.
   – the Turkish girl who figured out how to turn bananas into bioplastic.
   – Ada Lovelace, invented the first computer program.
   Women have been innovating and excelling in the fields of science and math for hundreds of years despite facing harassment and discrimination. More empowerment means more women in science, which means more life-saving invention.
3. Political Empowerment means more and better policies. Women’s needs (and a lot of other people) seem ignored when policymakers are mostly men. When women stand up in political forums, we get legislation that can save lives, protect young girls, and provide access to needed healthcare. If we want our daughters to have the care they need in the future, we need more women in political power now. Empowerment for everyone!
4. To prevent the abuse of women rights as individuals and workers.
5. Also, empowering women workers will prevent discrimination practice within supply chains.
6. To improve women’s ability through better skills, confidence and wages. This will help to support their families and communities.

Omose initiative (OI) is a subsidiary of Stell-Row Ventures. OI is geared towards supporting, empowering, engaging, inspiring and equipping young women and girls. Our support will help them become the next generation of leading politicians, activists, social entrepreneurs and change agents. Equally, our passion is  to promote the economic and social empowerment of women through the formation of self-managed and self-sustaining groups.

About Stella Ozemoya

Stella Ozemoya is the CEO of Stell-Row Enterprises. She wears many hats. She is an entrepreneur, a business development services provider for start-ups. Stella is also an advocate for women’s rights on Empowerment and gender equality. In addition, she is  a political activist, a TEEP ALUMNI 2015, an EDC alumni Pan Atlantic University, and a mentor with Cherie Blair foundation for Women in business. Stella trains youths in agro processing,  she also facilitates in a Lagos Skill and Vocational centre and is an Ashoka Changemaker scholar.

Connect with Stella:

Twitter – @stellaoze

Facebook – Stella Adewole-Ozemoya

Email – omose5@yahoo.co.uk

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