Women in Management and Business and Public Service, a non-profit organisation, has stated that many women face career stagnation due to limited access to mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership development programmes.

In a statement from the WIMBIZ Communications Team, it was stated that women in Nigeria and across the globe had made commendable strides in leadership across business, corporate environment, and public office.

It continued, “However, systemic barriers continue to impede their progress, rooted in structural inequalities, harmful stereotypes, and cultural biases that undermine women’s contributions and hinder their career growth.

“Many women face career stagnation due to limited access to mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership development programmes. In Nigeria’s top 20 companies by market capitalisation, women hold only 23.4 per cent of board seats, with a mere 10 per cent having female board chairs, and none led by female CEOs.”

It further noted that despite progress, Nigerian women still encounter sexual harassment, workplace bullying, gender bias, and societal stereotypes that create hostile work environments and limit their professional advancement.

The statement continued,” While comprehensive national data is limited, numerous reports indicate that sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue in Nigerian workplaces, deterring many women from pursuing or sustaining leadership roles. Women in leadership roles frequently face intimidation, isolation, and deliberate exclusion from key decision-making processes. These actions not only undermine their authority but also discourage other women from aspiring to leadership positions.

“Unconscious bias and outdated gender norms reinforce the notion that leadership is a male domain. The 2021 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Nigeria 139th out of 156 countries in terms of gender parity, highlighting the persistent disparities in leadership representation.”




https://punchng.com/women-face-career-stagnation-due-to-lack-of-mentorship-wimbiz/