To say I was elated would be stating the least. Comrade Ladi Ilya was elected in September 2003 at Bauchi as the pioneering Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress' National Women Committee. She then was the National Treasurer of the Non-Academic Staff Union.
Last week, her union organised its 4th Quadrennial National Delegates' Conference and she emerged as President from an electoral contest. I am very positive that this is a major step forward for the quest for gender equality in our unions. She will be the firts female President of NASU and presently in the country, the only woman (as President or General Secretary of a union) on the Central Working Committee of Congress.
I say kudos to her
Yemmy
I am also elated cos this really is a step in the right direction for our unions.I hope trade unions will start practising what they preach i.e gender equality and true democracy. She is a capable and commited union leader, i hope she gets all the support needed to build a strong union. However, i hope no body puts pressure on her to overperform or prove herself simply because of her sex. i am hoping the measuring stick of success will be gender nuetral.