JOHANNESBURG — ONE board member, business leader and philanthropist Alhaji Aliko Dangote has called for a law promoting gender equality in Nigeria. Speaking at the 2019 Women Corporate Directors Lecture in Lagos, Nigeria, Dangote advocated for legislation which will allow a certain percentage of women in public or private sectors workforce.

ONE in Africa Executive Director, Rudo Kwaramba-Kayombo commented:

“ONE applauds Aliko Dangote, not only as an inspirational business leader globally but also as an advocate for social justice, particularly gender equality. We know that Poverty is Sexist socially, economically, legally – girls and women are the hardest hit by poverty. Women are less likely to participate in the workforce. As of 2018, women were 26%  less likely to participate in the workforce than men, resulting in a significant loss in economic output, and wealth. While very few countries have achieved gender parity in parliamentary representation; women’s share of parliamentary seats rose to 23 percent in 2018, representing an increase of 4 percentage points since 2010. Globally, women earn just 77% of men’s wages on average.

“If our leaders do not urgently make meaningful legislative commitments to close the gender gap now, we will only achieve gender equality in 108 years. Therefore we urge our leaders to make meaningful commitments to fulfil SDG 5, and “ achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls .”