Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state is committed to fostering a transport system where women can thrive as commuters, entrepreneurs, policymakers and innovators.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said this at the Global Transport Policy (GTP) maiden Women in Transport Conference held in Lagos on Friday.
The conference had the theme: ‘Mindset Plus Skillset: Championing Inclusive Agenda for Women in the Nigerian Transport Industry ‘.
According to Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State recognises that inclusivity is the cornerstone of progress.
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“Transportation is the lifeblood of every economy. It connects people, drives commerce and serves as a bridge to development; yet, in Nigeria and indeed globally, the transport sector has long been marked by a gender disparity that hinders its full potential.
“Women, who make up nearly half of our population, are underrepresented in decision-making roles, technical fields, and even as users of safe and equitable transport services,” he said.
The governor said that the imbalance was more than a social issue.
“It is an economic challenge.
“As Nigeria’s transport sector faces emerging challenges – urbanisation, climate change – rapid technological advancement and gender inclusion are not optional,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that the government was committed to policy reforms for gender inclusivity and women empowerment through skills development.
“Our ongoing collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme trained over 500 women in green transport technologies over the past two years.”
He added that the government created a safer transport system and implemented measures such as better lighting at terminals, gender-sensitive vehicle designs, and deployment of female security personnel at high-traffic locations.
He said that the theme of the conference underscored two pillars of transformation: changing perceptions and building capacities.
According to him, changing perceptions is not enough.
He said that women must have access to technical training, mentorship and other opportunities needed to thrive.
He said that, to achieve an inclusive agenda for women in the Nigerian transport industry was not the responsibility of one government, one organisation or one individual, but a collective mission.
“To policymakers, I urge you to design and implement frameworks that prioritise gender equity in transport policies and programmes.
“ To corporate leaders, I challenge you to create opportunities for women at every level of the transport value chain, from technical roles to executive leadership.
“To women and girls, I encourage you to see the transport industry as a space for innovation, growth and impact. Dare to dream and dare to lead,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Oluwasegun Musa, Chairman/Chief Consultant of GTP, said that the conference was aimed at breaking barriers, stereotypes and biases.
He added that it was aimed to build capacity, promote entrepreneurship and foster inclusiveness.
According to Musa, women comprise 12 per cent of Nigeria’s transport workforce (International Labour Organization).
He also said that women with technical skills earned 30 per cent more than those without.
“This is a clarion call for the Federal Government to drive women participation in governance, legislation and critical stakeholder engagement.
“We are here to champion this move,” he said.
