By Matthew Don
Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation has told women not to be beggarly in their approach to what they want but to see themselves as those who have the competence to be hired.
Amaechi told maritime stakeholders in Lagos that nothing stops women from excelling in whatever areas of human endeavour they find themselves if they understand how intelligent they can be.
The event was the World Maritime Day celebrated by all member countries of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and theme for this year’s celebration is “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.”
Speaking at this year’s celebration of World Maritime Day, Amaechi said women are intelligent, vibrant and can do as good as men in whatever areas they get involved in.
Amaechi said: “You people should stop begging. It is your entitlement. God has blessed you. You are manipulators. You have what it takes to prove yourselves and be considered for whatever you are due for.
“We were in a class of 40 and there were about 20 women who never bothered to come check their results if they had resit. They are very intelligent.”
Amaechi advised women to use competence as an advantage and not seeking to be considered or conferred advantages merely on the basis of their gender.
According to the minister, our society is in need of mindset liberation that will help government lift 10 million Nigerians out of poverty.
Amaechi who gave Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations as an example, said she has excelled to global technocrat stage not because of her gender but because of her knowledge and ability to deliver on any assignment given to her.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari discovered Amina during a visit to London and appointed her a Minister of Environment, noting that her appointment at the UN was not a product of gender consideration or lobby.
“She never applied for these jobs, she was discovered and invited . You are intelligent and resourceful as a woman. In fact , you are the most intelligent animal created by God,” Amaechi added.