An entrepreneur and Deputy Managing Director of J.K Horgle Transport Limited, Elinam Horgle, has encouraged women to overcome their fears and grab any opportunities that come their way.

“And as much as we scream about creating opportunities for women and talking about female empowerment, fear is our biggest problem. Because in some of the programmes that we’ve run, such as the female empowerment programme, where we see a young woman or a woman that is skilled enough and there’s an opportunity that requires her skill, our biggest impediment is fear.

"Not just fear for herself but fear from the family and the people around her because she might say, ‘Okay, let me try’, and then someone will scream and say, ‘Are you sure? Don’t go and disgrace yourself', but that thing is for men’. Those kinds of statements really impact this whole female empowerment drive,” she said.

According to her, it is time for women, especially mothers and parents, to avoid using words that discourage their children from pursuing their dreams.

She emphasised that it is better to allow your child to try new things rather than using words that might discourage them from exploring new opportunities.

She said “And so, I will say now to all mothers and parents that are raising children, that phrase ‘it’s for boys’; can we stop saying it and look for a new phrase? And when a girl wants to do something, unless it is detrimental to her health, please give her the push. Let her try first. Maybe she’ll try it and not like it anyway, but let her try first. You never know who you have in your house. Let her try first.”

Elinam added “And also, to the women that hold positions, when you have the opportunity to get a better position, go for it. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Your skill is your skill; you still have your skill. But at least when you get it now, you are the person who has now created 'It can be done'.

“… And now to the young ladies, do it afraid. I’m not saying don’t have fear. We all have fear, but do it afraid. If you fail, you learn from it.”



VKB/AE