Tina Amanda
An increase of women in leadership roles through mentoring is a panacea for promoting national development.
Justice Mary Odili, stated this while speaking on the theme: Mentoring Women: An Essential Tool for National Development, during the opening ceremony of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Rivers State 2022 Week, in Port Harcourt.
She said that if men are in charge of making decisions, policies and practices that help women’s health and well-being may not be as important, and the gap in women’s financial power will continue.
She, however, pointed out that to achieve success in mentoring women, men must be fully engaged, as effective mentorship can not be successful without involving men.
“One of the most important ways to increase the number of women in higher decision-making positions, especially in the health system, is to mentor younger women professionals more effectively.”
“To enable their capacity building, confidence carrier progression, and leadership.” Certain barriers are obstacles to women, such as gender bias, discrimination at work, and sexual harassment, amongst others.
“Mentoring more women to take on leadership roles is not only important but also a necessary step for national development.”
“It is important that the few women currently in leadership and influence consciously guide the younger ones to help them navigate the challenges. If not, the level of confidence and career progression among women will be adversely affected.
“To effective mentor women, we need to engage the men as effective mentorship can not be successful without involving men
“Strategically investing in and raising a crop of skilled and motivated women in leadership has the potential to yield huge returns in a new generation of women leaders who are not only ready to lead but are also equipped to lead effectively.”
Justice Odili said, “As leaders, we have a responsibility to guide and help women in the workplace to create positive social and economic change and long-term growth.”
Also, the President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) in Rivers State, Dr Omosivie Maduka, said mentoring female professionals will aid their development, build their confidence, and help them contribute meaningfully to leadership and good governance.
According to her, “We are specifically looking at mentoring female professionals, whether they be doctors, lawyers, or whatever profession they find themselves in, to be able to contribute to leadership, good governance, and national development.”
“There is a need to foster growth and development among professionals, especially females so that we can improve the country’s income and development as a nation.”
Meanwhile, an oncologist expert at the event, Dr Biyi Olusegun, called on government and corporate bodies to get involved in making available radiotherapy treatment machines in the state, as the lack of them affects the treatment of cancer disease.
Dr Olusegun made the call while speaking on the topic ” Prevention and Care Strategies for Cancers in women” during the scientific session of Medical Women Association of Nigeria Rivers State, 2022 Week, said cancer is a very serious illness affecting so many people in the communities.
According to him, if adequate funding is given to those who are interested to bring in radiotherapy treatment machines into the country at zero or no interest it would help to reduce the cost of treatment.
He, however, said it is important for people to be able to get access to the right kind of care when it is diagnosed early, noting that cancer is curable if detected early.
On his part, the Managing Director of Fibroid Care Center, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, said with the latest technology called High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), removing fibroids through surgery is no longer required as the HIFU machine kills fibroids by burning it without no pain or scar, thereby shrinking it within a short space of time.
