 Welcome to The Advocate, where tropical issues are discussed in a know-who's-bad manner. In other words, we call a spade by its name. Today I am calling for gender equality in all walks of life. Tolu speaks on public safety today and to be honest, no one is safe until everyone is safe. Olai Rwaju speaks on business synergy and the strength we possess as a nation and Abdul is questioning the justice system. Sit back, the panelists are here to present your Sunday news of provoking thoughts after this break. Breaking the bias, gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow. On March 8th, in commemoration of the International Women's Day, over a million women went out on the march, protesting against the rejected gender equality bill in the National House of Assembly and also the denial of citizenship for foreign-born husbands. This picture highlights discriminatory policies and organizing women and gender equality. If we want to see a better Nigeria and a sustainable tomorrow, then these archaic policies should be reviewed. In past and recent times, women have gone beyond norms and discriminatory policies to etch a name for themselves and the society. The issue of gender rules and responsibility have veiled the need for sustainable input from both sexes. In order to see progress in creating flourishing atmosphere for both genders to thrive, gender-based biases could be addressed through the following. Gender equality mainstreaming in diverse sector, pushing views in parliament that supports gender equality. The need for gender equality sensitization in schools and educational institutions, enforcing laws that supports gender equality beyond theoretical views. The recent agitation for a gender-balanced representation in executive leadership is a world fight. If taken up seriously, this could start a new era for dynamism. The constitution of the country should not be built upon biases or wrong religious sentiments. No doubt, the tax at hand will be a long-worthy work that would demand men, women, and those at the hem of a face to pick up the amount of a positive change needed. In conclusion, any given society that envisions development and equality should be flexible enough to give worthy individuals a chance based on merit and not on gender or racial biases. Remember this, a man is as human as a woman. A leadership has no gender, so break the bias. Well, with me, I think it's quite sickly that they didn't go for the bill because as far as I'm concerned, a woman can do as much as a man can do. And that bill just shows that our representatives are living in stone ages where they think a woman cannot do anything. In private businesses, we see women who run their business and they're doing a very good job. Are you not saying that women should not be in government? Yes, it's quite sickly to me and it's a decision that should be reversed to me. You're right. Just before you comment, Mr. Tulu, I know you have so beautiful women around you, your daughters, your wife, I'm sure you have big plans for your daughters. So what do you think about this? You know how? Yeah, thanks. Okay. All right, so... To me, I think gender equality should be promoted because as a private business owner, I can say for fact that if you want to trust your business growth, ladies have been proving worthy to represent the business. So if you look at it from aspect of the secretary, the receptionist, you see the way the ocean in business, the way more contracts, the way more engagement. Then when you look at it on the basis on the small scale level, you can trust them with money. Money management, they are there. So when we look at productivity, women can be satisfied, okay, even in spaces where you think men can actually perform. So if we give them the aspect of, say, letting them be part of the government, I'm sure a lot of policies that will be endearing to ensure we have productivity will be promoted to their participation in government. Just not just, say, we are being biased based on religion or based on tribal sentiment or what-have-you. They actually have a lot to offer, just like they are building a home. They should be allowed to be part of what we are doing, government, businesses, and opportunities around the world. So I will support the gender equality and the bill, it's just like you rightly said, it shows that we've not gone beyond reality and we need to work with reality and allow them into the system. Well, that's quite interesting. Is Mr. Toulou on there? All right. So you've all said it, excellence, leadership, authority, intelligence has no gender. Say, a woman can do as much as a man can do. I just, I actually want to chip in a bit. To me, if they cannot pass the law to give female women, same-writers men, why do we bother educating women in the first place? Exactly. Why do parents spend money sending them to school, university, training them? So you just want them to get all this training and stay at home? So therefore, we should not basically be criticizing any other countries that supposedly suppress women, like Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. The women should stay at home because indirectly our leaders are more, let's do the same thing. So really, they should open their eyes and ears. Women can do as much or even better than men in certain situations. Sure. If a woman is married, she has to cater for her family. She goes to work and has to come home and look after her family and her husband and have time for herself. So really, in some cases, they're better than men. Sure, sure. In my view. You all have all said it, you know, just like the recent population census, you see that the women and the men are almost half 50-50. The population in Nigeria is almost equal between women and women. We say there is power in numbers. Yes. If you don't allow a certain number of persons in a system to function as to their highest optimum level, just because they are women, you are going to retard that system because the system needs to survive on numbers. So we are shooting ourselves from the legs, including women. We're only using half of our potential because if we don't give the women the right to excel, to expose themselves to the full limit. So therefore, we're actually shooting ourselves from the legs. Yeah, right. In addition to that, if you also look at it from an honest perspective, we as men, we know we make policies of long-time policies, but at some point, we need some instant results, instant policies. When women bring in their own ideas of say, you know what, this situation we are in, have you tried this, their opinion, because they are good at giving solutions, instant solutions. But when we don't have that balance, we only focus on the long-time goals, the long-time achievements, results and stuff like that. What it translates to on the long run is, will be drafting policies that are harsh, that don't conform with the reality. They are very fantastic policies, but are they obtainable with what the reality is talking about? So we need a strike and balance, where we have the men making good use of their intelligence, right? And the women also trying to strike a balance and ensure that everything works hand in hand. Yeah, yeah, don't worry. So it's the truth? Yes, so saying your view on this issue, given the fact that you have several women around you as a strong one, you are. Yeah, you know, I'm sure you know my views already about this. Clearly, someone is not thinking straight, you know. Again, in a world where men have to make a decision about women, clearly someone is not thinking straight, again. Because, I mean, if they're saying that they want to achieve gender equality, and the men are making decisions, I mean, the majority of the decision makers are men, and they're making decisions on behalf of women, clearly someone should be wearing their thinking cap. You know, it's been proven time and time again that organizations have been warned by women, or have more women on their boards, or in the management team, actually perform better. Yeah, this is a very powerful fact. This is fact. You know, this is not a myth. So to not say that, you know, you can't get women the same right as a man. I mean, I don't understand this. Clearly someone is still in the same age, and should be wearing, you know, maybe leaves and carrying a clove around. You know, it's just ridiculous to say this. All right, thank you very much. My fellow, should I save to see him for she? So let's break the bias. Yeah. All right, thank you. Hope this is Tolu. Stay with us.