Prince Adesegun Banjoko, President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), has appealed for increased women participation in seeking elective positions in the association to ensure speedy development.
Banjoko made the appeal on Saturday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The President who was re-elected on Oct. 26, 2021, said that there were several intelligent and successful women in the association but none of them are willing to seek elective positions of leadership.
He said women are endowed with great gifts to propel the wheel of economic and social development of society and must never take the back stage for the good of the nation.
“I am relying on global practice to encourage women participation, most women are timid. Again, men intimidate them to feel inferior, we sell inferiority complex to them. We give ourselves superiority complex and they accept.
“I just want a situation whereby we benefit from their wealth of experience and talents.
“In appreciation of National Gender Policy of 2016, active women should be encouraged with suitable positions in our national, state, zonal, and unit excos/committees so that we can benefit from their talents and wonderful initiatives,” he said.
He said women in other fields are driving development hence his appeal for the ones in the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), to take up leadership opportunities.
He said his administration would continue to ensure women served in important committees to contribute their knowledge and gain confidence towards aspiring for higher positions of leadership.
Banjoko said the association has begun a nationwide data collation to ascertain the population and gender distribution for effective planning as well as to chase quacks out of the trade.
He said substandard block production is a major factor that leads to building collapse, hence the need to have a database of certified producers nationwide to eradicate quackry.
He said information of certified producers would be made available on the association’s website, currently being designed to ensure that the public will have access to information of quality assured block makers.
“This administration has decided to introduce nationwide digital national identity cards.
“It would be captured to show the identity of the holder, state and distinct national identity code- number,” he said.
He lamented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trade and called for collaboration of NABMON members across the country towards realisation of goals of the group.
(NAN)
