BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

LAGOS—The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, has described women as the most underutilised resources in the world.

Sanusi made this observation  at the fifth anniversary celebration and 2013 graduation/induction ceremony of Women in Successful Careers, WISCAR, in Lagos.

He said:  “Women, who constitute half of the world’s human capital, are one of its most underutilised resources. Studies have shown that if better use were made of the world’s female human capital, economic growth will increase and the number of people living in poverty will decrease (OECD, 2008).

“As this global job crisis continues unabated, women face particular challenges both in terms of the sectors in which they wish to work as well as the conditions they work under (ILO 2012).

“These gender gaps confirmed the Chinese proverb that “women hold up half the sky” favoured by Chairman Mao, is more of aspiration than reality, Goldman Sachs (2012). There are approximately three billion women and girls who hold up half the sky.

“Increasing women’s economic participation has a multiplier effect. According to Madelein Albright (former US Secretary of State) women reinvest 90 per cent of their income in their families and communities, compared with men who reinvest only 30 to 40 per cent.”