The Ekiti State Women in Management (EKWIM) has canvassed for equitable professional environments, balanced chances, and participatory governance to boost female representation in leadership roles across the state's public sector. This appeal was issued during the organisation's 2026 Annual Public Lecture held in Ado-Ekiti, an event that also featured the swearing-in of a fresh executive council and the induction of new members.
What key message did the Head of Service deliver?
The Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, amplified this stance through a presentation titled "Breaking Barriers and Navigating the Double Bind in the Workplace." She maintained that competent personnel must be granted the space to add value to public administration free from gender biases and prejudiced expectations. Olomojobi pointed out that female professionals frequently encounter contradictory pressures, where they are pressured to demonstrate authority while simultaneously facing negative labels if they display too much assertiveness. She emphasised that staff evaluations must strictly hinge on ability, track record, honesty, and output rather than subjective generalisations.
Furthermore, the Head of Service advised female workers to enhance their professional competence, communication abilities, strategic insight, and administrative capabilities while keeping proper records of their milestones. While urging them to seek guidance and manage feedback professionally, she warned that severe instances of bias, prejudice, and mistreatment should not be left solely for victims to navigate through personal grit alone. She called on EKWIM and relevant government bodies to institutionalize mentorship frameworks and enforce stricter regulations against workplace victimisation.
How did stakeholders react to the leadership discourse?
During her goodwill message, Dr. Olapeju Babafemi, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and retired State Head of Service, championed gender parity and progressive institutional policies to elevate female administrators. She commended EKWIM for fostering upcoming leaders and lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji's administration for incorporating women into critical public sector leadership positions. Babafemi noted that female leaders frequently navigate a paradox where they are expected to balance firmness with accommodation, noting that systemic changes—such as transparent promotion frameworks and supportive workplace cultures—are essential to dismantling these obstacles.
In her keynote address, the outgoing EKWIM Coordinator, Dr. Oyeyemi Kayode- Ojo, explained that double standards often mischaracterize professional firmness as arrogance. She encouraged women to remain undeterred by such biases, urging them to showcase excellence, cultivate strategic professional networks, and uplift one another. Kayode-Ojo reflected on the origins of EKWIM, which was established on March 11, 2021, by Erelu Bisi Fayemi alongside Babafemi, with the core mission of mentoring female public servants for top leadership roles and enhancing service delivery.