By Martha Agas
The Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, has emphasised the need for strategic mentorship to equip young women for leadership roles.
Shinkafi said the move was necessary to empower them to contribute significantly to national development.
The Executive Director made the call when a delegation from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), led by Hajiya Lami Tumaka, Chairman of the institute’s inaugural International Women’s Day (IWD) Planning Committee, visited her.
A statement issued by SMDF’s Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, on Thursday in Abuja said that the visit was part of the maiden edition of the NIPR’s IWD themed ‘Communicate to Balance: Gain Equity, Empower Women, holding in Abuja’
The SMDF’s boss said the mentorship would help groom competent female leaders and thanked the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, for creating an enabling environment that allows women to excel in the sector.
“I see so many young, bright and intelligent girls and women that we should be mentoring.
“It is important that we invest and impact this critical set of people as part of our contributions to the development of our society.
“That way, we are sure of credible succession generation of competent female leaders; if we don’t, there won’t be anything for them to look up to,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hajiya Tumaka praised the SMDF’s boss for her transformative leadership, creativity and introducing innovations at the organisation, noting that her leadership had significantly contributed to the institution and the nation’s economy.
She also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing women to strategic positions across sectors, describing it as a clear demonstration of gender sensitivity.
