![\"Picture](\"http:\/\/www.iita.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/1024_DSC1575_0617.jpg\")
<\/a>Attended by more than a hundred career women mostly from IITA and entrepreneurs, the forum featured three remarkable women in the community: Ylva Hillbur, IITA\u2019s Deputy Director General for Research for Development; Femi Olayebi, Chief Executive Office (CEO) of My World of Bags; and Achenyo Idachaba, CEO of MitiMeth, both from Ibadan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Celebrating women\u2019s accomplishments in their fields was the focus of the symposium, which provided an impetus for inspiring women to succeed in their chosen paths. The three speakers talked about their life\u2019s journey\u2014 and challenges\u2014to to get to where they are now. The forum was part of the celebration of UN Women\u2019s Month with the theme \u201cMake it happen\u201d. According to Sylvia Oyinlola, Regional Administrator for West Africa, who leads the group, WEP was established one year ago after IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga challenged the women of IITA about gender parity in management positions by 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year, in a bigger women\u2019s forum on Women\u2019s Month, Dr Sanginga had said that he wanted to \u201cempower the women for positions of leadership not only in IITA\u201d. After that fateful meeting, the women nominated a group of representatives from various areas and specializations that would lead the activities of the group. Thus, WEP was formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWEP is working towards empowering women,\u201d said Sylvia. \u201cIt aims to get more support for women and for the larger community. All of us women should make a commitment to touch someone and show how we can make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal of WEP is to \u201cempower female IITA staff in their professional roles and advance women\u2019s leadership and management skills to achieve positive changes in gender parity\u201d. The target is to achieve 50% female representation at management level within IITA by 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WEP has provided basic education for the local community, conducted training and mentorship for some women members, provided Christmas gifts to the IITA cr\u00e8che, and is undertaking an awareness campaign to highlight various global issues, such violence against women, harassment, breast cancer, human trafficking, and environmental protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his keynote address at the WEP forum, Sanginga said, \u201cThis is about leadership and about strategizing and making sure that women compete favorably and get into management positions.\u201d He said that the next director general in IITA should be a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The common message from all the speakers was: \u201cWe need to encourage our fellow women. We need to hold each other\u2019s h ands to help us get better in our chosen field of competency, and ensure that we get credit and acknowledgment for our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andrea Gros, Head of Communication, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture a.gros@cgiar.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n