The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has recommended gender based banking as a means of encouraging rural women to participate more in economic activities in the country.

FIDA’s National President Hauwa Shekarau told newsmen in Abuja last Thursday that rural women were usually faced with difficulty while trying to seek business loans.

Shekarau said that rural women needed encouragement from the banking sector through the reduction of requirements for opening bank accounts and seeking bank loans.

She said, “Women are a driving force in the economy, but their access to finance is still far too small.

“Gender based banking should be encouraged to address stringent account opening conditions, which currently exist.”

The FIDA president said that such stringent conditions had made it difficult, unattractive and discouraging for women, particularly those in the informal sector to open bank accounts in accessing loans.

“Doing this will increase the contributions of women-owned businesses to the Nigerian economy and can have a significant development impact,” she said.

Shekarau said it was important to address the economic inefficiencies and social inequities that would arise when an aspiring businesswoman could not realise her full potential because of gender inequality.

Speaking on education and women empowerment, Shekarau said women in Nigeria needed incentives that would encourage adult education.

She said that globally tested initiatives could be introduced for market women so as to enable them to have basic skills.

“Education is critical to economic empowerment and improved standard of living, incentives should be provided to encourage adult education.

“Other globally tested and tried initiatives, such as schools or evening classes for market women, should be introduced,” she said.

Shekarau said that governments at all levels needed to create an enabling environment for women to participate more in the political process, adding that efforts should be intensified to achieve such.

“Due to the undeniable connection between economic and political empowerment, the participation and representation of women in establishments where decisions concerning them are taken should be institutionalised,” she added.

According to the FIDA boss, economic empowerment of women is key to development.

She said, “Those important structures must be put in place to ensure that Nigerian women are properly equipped to contribute positively.”

She said that programmes and interventions by international donor agencies should trickle down to other levels of government and not only at the national level.

Our correspondent reports that FIDA is in the forefront in creating and promoting the welfare of women and children.