WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

If you train a woman, you have trained the whole family because the knowledge she acquired is shared with the entire family, and only a sound woman (psychologically, mentally, financially and physically) can be able to raise a happy home. Childrens early development is slightly dependent upon a happy mother. This is part of the farewell speech delivered in honor of Mrs. Kathyen Jackden on her appointment as the Ambassador to Senegal. The dinner celebration was organized by friends of Mrs. Jackden in recognition of her good work as an acting High Commissioner in Canada in promoting, providing and supporting Nigeria efficiently in consular services. Mrs. Jackden leadership and guidance of the Embassy staff fostered an environment that increased the confidence and trust of Nigerian government within the Nigerian abroad. Process and procedures designed by the Nigeria government to support Nigeria abroad are being efficiently implemented and effectively carried out without stress and delay. While there are many factors that shape and define Nigeria as a great nation, the way the country was perceived by others was not always in a positive light. Mrs. Jackden uses her skillful diplomacy to challenge these perceptions by focusing on showcasing Nigeria as a viable country and a valuable friend and ally to do business in partnership with, not only to the Canadian government but to other businesses in Canada, particularly in the areas of education, energy, information Technology and Health programs and services. Mrs. Jackden is not just regarded by friends as a true mentor, a visionary, an Ambassador, a pillar of the Nigerian community in Canada but a catalyst that has helped to influence and better the relationship between Canada and the Nigerian government economically, politically and culturally. The keynote addresses were delivered by some selected women of substance who are well known or expertise on their various fields to delivered the underlying tone and summarizes the core message or most important revelation of the event. The speakers raised interest and awareness on the issues of gender equality, women in politics and violence against women. The first speaker was Dr. Charity Lebeanya, The Executive Director, Heritage Skills Development Centre who spoke on Women economic empowerment. She emphasized that economic empowerment is the capacity of women and men to participate in, contribute to and benefit from the growth in ways that both contributors will be recognize. Empowering women economically is an essential part of realizing rights and good economic sense, it is widely recognized that women bring critical perspectives and priorities and a diversity of skills and competencies makes policy and budgetary decision-making more responsive to the needs and

priorities of all groups. Increasing the role of women in the economy is part of the solution to the financial and economic resilience and growth. She summarized by saying, one motivation for womens empowerment is basic fairness and decency. Young girls should have the exact same opportunities that boys do to lead full and productive lives. The second speaker, Dr. Charity Magaji delivered the keynote on women and Politics. She made references to the pre-colonial period in which women are more involved in Africa politics and now being influence by western ideology that resist and reduce woman participation in the present period. She stress that womens economic participation and empowerment are fundamental to strengthening womens rights and enabling women to have control over their lives and extent influence in society. There is a need for great political and economic empowerment and participation of African women, and the Nigeria women in particular. Nneka MacGregor, is a lawyer and an advocate who work with government and other organization to eradicate violence against women. She is on the board of trusty of the girls child network worldwide, a charity that is focusing on empowering of the girls child through education and eradication of statutory that involved their physical, emotional, spiritual growth and development. She spoke on women rights, the role of women in the society and violence against women because she is a survival of women abuse. She developed an agenda to prevent the coming generation to desist and resist from abusing women starting from her children. She finally concluded that women are not given the opportunity to fully fulfill their potentials as the cradle of the world. She said women are the engine of the society and without women the society cannot move, if women are not recognized greater potentials are not used. The last speaker, Dr Temitope Adefarakan is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and a member and among the board of director of women in the centre with a particular portfolio on research and education. She volunteers with various organizations such as the women in shelters and crises centre in Toronto and Ottawa and she teach sociology and woman study in the University of Toronto. A survival of gender violence who is interested in educating women by shaping their ways of thinking and playing a leading role in empowering and building women community, and the black community in general. Dr. Temitope talks on African indigenous heritage and culture that put women beside man as equal. She saw every black African woman as a leader and gave an example of the market women that are economically and financially independent; they are economically empowered and successful in their own right. She stress that the expectation attributes and behaviors appropriate to women are shaped by African indigenous heritage, tradition, history and culture. She concluded by saying that we are the people really engaging on racist backward idea about ourselves, our indigenous culture and our indigenous languages, and the only people who can de-colonize us is ourselves.

In the farewell address of Ambassador Jackden, She shared from the experiences of all speakers and suggests the continuation of such forum for other women that has been a victim of violence and abuse like some of the speaker to stand strong and speak out in other to find a way of eradicating it, in other to build a better society. She believe that the woman are the engine of the society and without the woman the society cannot move, man should recognize the important and potential of woman as partner in progress. She thanks President Goodluck Jonathan for the opportunity given to women in global politics and for appointing some women into his cabinet. Though she acknowledges some problems in Nigeria but she is happy that all the problems are under controlled since the government is still able to maintain the democratic election since 1999 up till today. She urges the woman to face the political challenges and not be left behind, and since the political awareness is now open for them, they should see the challenges as an opportunity because both men and woman have an important part to play in Nigeria politics. Mrs. Jackden loved to be remembered as a mother, sister and a friend, who is easy to interact with, She want to be seen as a leader, in a position of building others and not a boss. She said her role and expectation as an Ambassador to Senegal is to attract good will, friendship and mutual benefit between Nigeria and other countries of the world. Ambassador Jackden is an indigene of Shendan Local Government area of Plateau State. She obtained a BA (Hon) in French from the University of Maiduguri in 1981 and after the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps; she began her career in 1982 with the Federal Civil Service as a Foreign Affairs officer. Mrs. Jackden rose to the rank of a Director serving in various capacities both at the headquarters in Abuja and various other Missions in Geneva, Dakar and Rome before coming to Ottawa as the Deputy Head of Mission in Canada and later became the Acting Head of Mission at the High Commission of Nigeria, Ottawa, Canada until she was officially appointed as the Nigeria Ambassador to Senegal. She is blessed with three daughters, Langnan, Lanret and Tongre and also a grandchild. Akintunde Smith Adebayo