Folake Odusiga, the first female Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Abuja branch, has advocated for greater leadership opportunities for women, expressing her discontent with ongoing discrimination in the field. This call to action came during her recognition as the 13th chairman and the first female president of the Abuja branch on Saturday.

Odusiga reflected on the significance of her new role, stating, “In the past, we’ve never had a female chairman before. I think it’s about time for us to recognise the women in all aspects.” She emphasized the unique strengths that women contribute to leadership, asserting, “When a woman is in leadership, the impact she has is often more pronounced compared to that of a man.”

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Sharing insights from her own experiences, Odusiga expressed her hope that her election would inspire other women to become more active in the institution, noting, “Historically, our male counterparts were reluctant to accept women in leadership roles.” She believes her position will encourage more female representation, reinforcing her belief that “there will also be one day” for other women to rise through the ranks.

In addition to advocating for women, Odusiga is committed to inspiring younger generations. “One of my visions is to engage younger individuals in secondary schools and support them from an early age,” she shared.

She also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors within the profession, emphasizing that “as a public servant, my vision is to bridge the gap between these sectors.” Odusiga called for increased participation from public entities in the institution’s activities, underlining the importance of collaboration for the institution’s success.