Venture Garden Group Commemorates IWD with Mentorship Event
International Women's Day 2020 with Garden Women.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally in recognition of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is commemorated with different themes annually with I AM GENERATION EQUALITY serving as the theme for this year.
A key player in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and leading supporter for gender equality in the tech space, Venture Garden Group, celebrated IWD 2020 in grand style. Through the Garden Women’s Network, the company hosted a special interactive event that saw several successful women from different walks of life share their experiences with the female staff of the organization.
The event, aimed to deepen the conversation on bridging the gender gap prevalent in many workplaces, homes, cultures and societies, had over 115 attendees.
Welcoming the speakers and guests to the event, Group Head, People Operations at VGG, Olanrewaju Idowu, suggested that inequality should be tackled from the inception, stating, “It all started with the society which attributes weakness to a girl child by programing her for inequality as a weaker vessel. We need to change the world’s perspective by teaching the girl child to know that she’s strong. Women need to role model the women’s right to others before the world will embrace this campaign. They need to support the women in their circles and not talk down on their strengths.”
One of the guest speakers at the event, Chief Risk Officer at Chapel Hill Denham, Oby Ugboma, noted that International Women’s Day is designed to encourage women to achieve their goals. In her discussion, she explained that the day was also set aside to highlight how women can acquire financial knowledge to make informed financial decisions by cultivating positive financial habits and practical money skills of budgeting and investment. This, she said, will enhance women’s freedom and power to do what they want to do.
Taking the conversation further, Chief Operation Officer, VGG, Funmilola Eniolorunda, said women can build successful careers by learning from the women who have achieved a lot ahead of them and not repeating their mistakes. She revealed that “We have mental blocks that are either self-imposed or by the society. The solution is to be ambitious as women, either you’re an alpha woman, middle like woman or a stay at home mother. Ensure to be the best in the area you have chosen and be confident in yourself.”
Also, in attendance at the event was the Executive Director of IREDE Foundation, Crystal Chigbu who mentioned that there is a need for women to maintain emotional and mental wellbeing. She mentioned that to achieve this hey need to understand their reality, have a support system which could consist of friends or family, celebrate themselves and lastly, lift others, which helps them develop a mindset of gratitude.
Bridget Elesin, a Family Life coach was equally present at the event and she lent her voice to the importance of equality stating, “Our culture has associated inequality to some of the roles that women play in the society, a mother or a wife role which God as a feminist did not support because He made us equal. So, don’t let culture bring you down. Identify, understand your purpose and celebrate your achievements to encourage the women in our society.”
The event also featured several games and rounded off with a Question and Answer session