How government can support women in Tech — Patience Mpakabori

Nigerian businesswoman, philanthropist, and activist, Patience Mpakabori LongJohn, has called on the Nigerian government to empower women across Nigeria with relevant technology skills to drive economic inclusion of women.

The co-founder of the Mpakaboari LongJohn Foundation (MLJ FDN), said to support economic growth, lessen the vulnerability of women, and increase independence, the government must ensure that every woman in Nigeria has access to financial, educational, social, and political empowerment.

Mpakabori, however, said to achieve these, the government needs to open the door to women more deliberately, starting with removing Gender Bias From the Pay Scale.

In her words, “It’s embarrassing that we still have to talk about gender pay equity in the 2020s, but unfortunately, it’s still a problem. Women’s and men’s earnings aren’t even, and it’s worse for women with marginalized identities.”

“To keep women in tech moving upward, organizations have to make it clear that they’re being paid competitively and fairly,” she added.

Patience Mpakabori LongJohn, further disclosed that no matter their gender identity, no one can succeed if they’re not provided with the opportunities to apply and be considered for promotions when positions open.

“One way to show women in tech workspaces that they can advance is by helping them create clear road maps to move up within the company and grow their careers. Women who can see growth opportunities within their organizations will stay to achieve and do more for the company,” Patience Mpakabori said.

Mpakabori also called for a safe and supportive culture, noting that tech has been a male-dominated world where women have commonly reported feeling like unwanted outsiders.

“It’s time for so-called “tech bros” attitudes to be laid to rest once and for all. Women can’t feel like they belong — which is one of the primary reasons people leave jobs in general — if they can’t be fully themselves.”

“Women shouldn’t have to deal with sexism, exclusivity, or microaggressions in the workplace,” Patience Mpakabori LongJohn added.