Against All Odds

Last week, I shared the lyrics of the school anthem of Girls Model School Lugbe in Abuja. The picture here today captures the essence of that phase: "When you train the girl child, you have trained the whole nation." It is clear that, against all odds, this determined mother of a less-than-a-year-old baby showed up for her digital skills training, even if that meant attending classes with her baby. This was my picture of the day.

I visited the ICT center in Kaduna State (KAD ICT Center) as part of my two-day working visit to the Northwestern region of Nigeria. I was blown away to see this mother working in her graphics class with a baby on her lap. Though we joked about the baby being a digital specialist before his peers,

Numerous studies have indicated a positive correlation between the education of women and various aspects of child development. There is also evidence to suggest that the children of educated mothers are more likely to perform well in school.

Education empowers women, leading to improved decision-making abilities. Empowered women are more likely to make choices that positively impact the well-being of their children, such as family planning, seeking healthcare, and investing in education.

So, let's support our women striving along the path of getting an education and building a career. Some common challenges that still exist include:

1. Pregnancy Discrimination:

Women may face discrimination or bias based on pregnancy. This can include not being considered for promotions, being subjected to negative comments, or even facing job loss.

2. Work-Life Balance:

Balancing the demands of work and the responsibilities of childcare can be challenging. Women may find it difficult to manage the expectations of both their employers and their families, leading to stress and burnout. They are expected to take their kids for every immunization appointment, deal with domestic work, spend most time on childcare, and yet show up at work at 8 am after probably a sleepless night of breastfeeding and childcare. How can we support them?

3. Lack of Flexible Work Arrangements:

One of the positive outcomes of COVID is the general acceptance of hybrid/remote or flexible work hours. Flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible hours, are crucial for mothers. The absence of such arrangements can make it difficult for women to balance work and childcare responsibilities.

4. Unsupportive Work Environment:

An unsupportive work culture can contribute to the challenges women face during the childbearing phase. This may include a lack of understanding from colleagues or superiors about the needs of working mothers. Would you allow a nursing mother with an emergency case of a caregiver for her baby to show up to work with her baby? How would you handle that?

5. Stigma Around Career Interruptions:

Women who take breaks from their careers to raise children may face stigma or bias when trying to re-enter the workforce. Employers may question their commitment or view their skills as outdated. This is where many of those women fall off the workforce. How can we reintroduce them to the workforce, have hiring processes that support such re-introduction if they have had such breaks?

6. Limited Advancement Opportunities:

Women may find it challenging to advance in their careers during the childbearing phase due to perceived limitations or biases from employers. This can affect their long-term career prospects and earning potential.

7. Childcare Costs:

The high cost of childcare services can be a significant barrier for women who want to continue their careers. In African culture, the support from extended family members has always bridged this gap, but as many women start to grow their careers, the modern lifestyle seems to move that support from family to paid childcare. This financial burden may lead some women to opt for career breaks.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what can be done to address this. How is your organization dealing with the above challenges?