NSE To Guarantee Top Positions For Women In Listed Companies

The Nigerian Stock Exchange is pushing for the inclusion of women in top roles among companies.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE Oscar Onyema said, on Tuesday that in the near future, the NSE would require the inclusion of women in top management positions before a company will be listed on the Exchange.

The NSE boss said this while delivering the opening remarks at the ongoing Nigeria2Equal Virtual CEO Roundtable organised by International Financial Council and the Exchange.

Onyema said, “Over the next two to four years, the NSE will collaborate with the IFC to identify and promote best practice in gender diversity and inclusion amongst select listed companies through a peer-learning platform.

“Ultimately, by participating in this programme, companies will be better prepared to align with gender-related listing requirements that may be proposed in the near future.”

The Exchange had last year kicked-off the Nigeria2Equal Initiative to advance the course of women in all sphere of life.

The campaign would support the private sector to increase women’s participation in leadership position and promote women entrepreneurial participation.

Onyema admitted that women are vital in achieving sustainable development.

He said, “We cannot achieve sustainable development without including women in all aspects of economic endeavour.”

According to the United Nations, in 2000, 28 per cent of managerial positions in the world were occupied by women, a small increase from 25 per cent, while women represented 39 per cent of the world’s workers and half of the world’s working-age population.

In Africa’s most populous country, some top firms like, Fidelity Bank Plc have appointed Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe as first female Managing Director, while First Bank of Nigeria also appointed Ibukun Awosika, as Chairman.

First City Monument Bank is the latest case of such push for women inclusion with the appointment of Yemisi Edun, as Acting Managing Director.

But Onyema said, “Despite progress achieved over the past two decades, the promise of a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment are removed remains unfulfilled.

“At the NSE, we are committed to playing our part by implementing various initiatives aimed at promoting gender diversity and empowering women.

“In recognising that we can do more to advance gender equality across the NSE ecosystem, the entire Management of the NSE has put their support behind the Nigeria2Equal programme because we believe in a collaborative approach.”