Folake Odusiga, the first female chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Abuja branch, has denounced prejudice and advocated for greater leadership opportunities for women.

She revealed this on Saturday while receiving recognition for being the Abuja branch’s 13th chairman and first female president.

Odusiga stated, “We’ve never had a female chairman before,” highlighting the importance of her role. It’s about time, in my opinion, that we acknowledge women in every way.

With the statement, “When a woman is in leadership, the role of a woman is more significant when you compare it with that of a man,” she emphasised the special qualities that women bring to leadership positions.

As she thought back on her experience, she mentioned that “in the past, our men didn’t want us to be in leadership,” expressing optimism that her leadership would encourage more women to participate actively within the organisation.

Odusiga is certain that her appointment as chairperson would encourage greater female involvement and serve as further evidence that “there will also be one day” when other women will advance through the ranks.

She mentioned that supporting the next generation of leaders is a crucial component of her vision for the branch.

One of my goals is to support the younger students in secondary education by starting them off early,” the speaker stated.

She stressed the necessity of more professional engagement between the public and private sectors.

Additionally, Odusiga emphasised the significance of closing the divide between the public and private sectors.

“My goal as a public servant is to close the gap between the public and private sectors,” she said, advocating for more public organisations to be involved in the institution’s operations.

“Collaboration is crucial for the institution to succeed because it unites the public and private sectors,” she continued.