By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
A Professor of law, Prof. Oluyemisi Abimbola, on Friday urged women lawyers to embrace change and the world of technology to make more impact in society.
Abimbola, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Lead City University, Ibadan, made the appeal at the 2024 International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Western Zone Leadership Training in Ibadan.
She enjoined the women lawyers not to be ignorant of learning and acquiring more knowledge, even outside of their field, to empower themselves and better their lots.
The professor of law advised them to acquire more degrees if possible and to try to develop themselves in all ramifications of life.
“Always try to improve your personality traits, you can’t restrict yourself as a leader. Let’s not be rigid and keep saying that we can’t change.
“As a leader, you need to have social and interpersonal skills to be able to carry everyone along,” she said.
Abimbola emphasised that a leader should encourage her followers and be patient to teach them.
She stressed that three sets of skills required for leadership competence are conceptual skills, technical skills, and social/interpersonal skills.
According to her, conceptual skills revolve around generating ideas through creative intuitions and a comprehensive understanding of a given context.
“Leading people represent a central component of human skills; interpersonal skills differentiate a manager from a leader.
“Let us be leaders who will always carry others along, develop ourselves, and always put smiles on the faces of people, always remember that team members and onlookers know exactly what kind of leader you are,” Abimbola said.
The FIDA Country Vice President (CVP), Mrs Amina Agbaje, remarked that there still existed a lack of a gender-responsive environment by the government.
She said that Nigerian women had not woken up from the devastating blow of rejection of their gender bills at the National Assembly.
Agbaje, who was represented by the FIDA National Secretary, Mrs Eliana Martins, said women and children are still victims of terrorism and insurgency in the country.
She added that hundreds of women and children were still in captivity, with some married out against their wishes and the law.
“Achieving positive and lasting results is a task that must be realised and to do that, as leaders, we need to work together with cohesiveness.
“It is sad to note that past and present experiences in some of our branches indicate a total lack of purpose, needless clashes, fights, jealousies, lack of team spirit and absence of sisterhood.
“It is with the above in mind that the leadership of FIDA Nigeria resolved to hold this national leadership training for all leaders to better prepare us for the task ahead,” she said.
Agbaje noted that the training was organised to serve as a platform to enhance peer-to-peer learning and review approach, foster interactions, and collaborations.
The CVP said that the training was also to promote engagements through a series of role-plays, group tasks and assignments on hand facilitation and feedback sessions.
She added that through this platform, the women lawyers hoped to improve team building and bonding.
Also, the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke, urged the lawyers to work to be corruption-free and work for the advancement and welfare of women and children in Nigeria.
Represented by one of the Oyo State FIDA members, Mrs Olubusayo Aiyegbusi, Solanke urged them to engage in self-examination and strive to always be corruption-free as it was in the golden years.
“Always support the NBA as statutory members. The current female chairman of the NBA, Ibadan branch, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi, is doing a fabulous job, let’s remain faithful,” Solanke said.
Earlier, the Oyo State FIDA Chairman, Mrs Olusola Sulayman, emphasised the importance of teamwork in building an organisation, saying that a lot could be achieved when people of diverse knowledge and background work together with a common goal.
“For one to be a valuable and effective team player, one must have the qualities of knowledge, resilience, hard work and a collaborative spirit.
“An opportunity like this is a forum to realign ourselves and build capacity, so that wherever and whenever we are called upon to play a part, the impact will be felt and success will be achieved,” Sulayman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other speakers at the programme include Mrs Bunmi Arajuwa and Mrs Deborah Collins. (NAN)
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