Underutilization of women’s skills hurts Nigeria’s growth, warns JCI president Aso

The 2026 President of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Aso, Peter Emmanuel Yilbiem, has said Nigeria is failing to maximize the potential of women by limiting them to certain roles and opportunities.

She spoke during her welcome address at the JCI Aso March General Assembly held to commemorate International Women’s Day in Abuja on Sunday.

Yilbiem said, “We are underutilizing the capabilities of our women in this country. We cannot limit them to certain jobs or activities. We must tap into the virtue that is in femininity.”

According to him, women remain one of the most untapped resources globally and should be given the opportunity to “step up and showcase themselves” as contributors to positive change.

He added that JCI’s leadership development initiatives are already producing individuals capable of occupying top leadership positions. “We are making great strides. JCI is not just in Abuja; it exists in every state in Nigeria and in over 120 countries,” he said.

Yilbiem cited notable members such as former governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Council, Simbi Wabote, as examples of the organisation’s impact across sectors.

She urged young women to build confidence and pursue leadership roles. “Sometimes the right man for the job is a woman waiting to take on the responsibility with courage and confidence,” she said.

Also, financial expert and founder of MTWI Services, Ifeoluwa Adegoke, advised women entrepreneurs to shun the lure of quick profits.

“If you want to win in your financial life, don’t look for immediate gains. Think long term. Time plus capital employed gives exponential wealth,” he said.

Adegoke highlighted the need for women to invest in education, financial literacy and intentionally creating value in the marketplace. He also encouraged mentorship and building ecosystems that allow others to grow.

In his remarks, Nagaba One Chief Executive Officer Saratu Alanza Nagaba-Pamah said integrity remains the foundation of sustainable business success.

“Whatever you do today without integrity, you cannot add value to your business. Business does not exist only in money; it exists in value and integrity,” he said.

He urged entrepreneurs to enhance their ventures by strengthening capabilities and building value-based systems, stressing that “value is the most important currency in the business sector.”