Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Lagos State, Funmi Sesi, has encouraged women to be visionary in their approach to leadership and personal development.
Speaking during the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees’ (NULGE) Lagos Chapter Women Summit, held at Ojo Local Government on Wednesday, Sesi emphasised that aspiring leaders must be driven by purpose and prepared for the responsibilities that leadership entails.
She was represented at the event by the Vice Chairman of NLC Lagos, Mr Olabisi Adebayo. The summit, themed “Gathering of the Amazons: Women in NULGE the Pride of Unionism,” featured discussions aimed at strengthening the role of women within the labour movement.
Addressing the topic “The Future Next Level: Contributing My Quota as Women in NULGE,” Sesi highlighted the importance of understanding one’s motivations and aligning them with a clear mission and vision.
“You must have a mission and a vision, that is to say, what pushed you to get there and what you are going to do and the process, you have to look at yourself very well,” she said.
“You must have the confidence to be a leader. You must not be someone that they will be tossing up and down. You must be able to make decisions at any given time as a leader.”
She also stressed the need for educational advancement, stating that without a strong educational foundation, particularly in the era of Artificial Intelligence, effective leadership would be difficult to attain.
Sesi advised women to avoid seeking leadership positions at all costs, warning against presenting themselves cheaply in the pursuit of power. Instead, she urged them to gain the respect of their peers and communities through integrity and competence.
She also recommended having mentors to guide and support them, noting that leadership is a journey best navigated with collaboration and continuous learning.
Former NULGE President in Lagos, Dr Iyabode Obasa, in her address on “Women in Labour Movement, the Pride of Unionism,” recounted the evolution of women’s roles in labour, from the margins to the forefront of advocacy and reform.
Obasa cited the formation of the International Labour Organisation and the efforts of Nigerian trailblazers like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti as milestones that enabled women to rise in union leadership.
“Women in NULGE have increased their presence in leadership positions, advocating for maternity rights, gender equality, and anti-discrimination,” she said.
She noted that women in the union had mobilised others for capacity building and political participation while creating safe environments to tackle workplace harassment.
NULGE President, Mr Sunday Ogunforowa, affirmed the union’s commitment to women’s issues, explaining that the summit served as a platform for learning, reflection, and progress.
(NAN)