Our campaign for gender equality is a campaign for equal opportunities - Prof. Okojie

Professor Christiana Okojie, Professor of Labour Economics and Development Planning, University of Benin.

Professor Christiana Elizabeth E. Okojie is an accomplished Academic. A mother and a role model to many, in this interview with The Economist (TE), she gives her take on burning national economic issues and leaves the reader inspired.


TE: May we meet You ma?

Prof: I am Professor  Christiana Okojie of the department of Economics and Statistics, University of Benin. I joined the department as a Pioneer Staff in 1975. I have retired but currently working on contract basis. I am from Edo state, Ekpoma to be precise. I have been married for 43 years to a wonderful husband and we are blessed with two sons and three daughters.

TE: Please tell us about your educational background?

Prof: I had a very good education in a sense because my father was a Teacher and School Principal at  Government College, Ibadan. I attended Queens School, Ede, also a government school. You know Government Schools were like the best those days. I had my first degree in the University of Ibadan and went to do my Masters in Leeds University in England and later went on to do my Ph.D. in the University of Ibadan.

TE: Ma, why study Economics?

Prof: I think I studied Economics  because of my Dad. My Dad didn't get the opportunity to go to the university but he did his HSC and studied Economics. It made me interested and at the HSC level, we had a teacher who encouraged those of us who wanted to study economics. In fact, from my class, about seven of us wanted to go to U.I to study the course.

TE: what are your areas of specialisation?

Prof: I wanted to do Public Finance at Manchester University and Development Economics at Leeds university in England. But Leeds university was closer to my husband, so I chose Leeds. I did my masters in  development economics but my Ph.D was in the area of Labour economics because it was on labour supply of women. I tended to focus on gender issues. When I went to do my Ph.D, I had a mentor then, Professor Onitiri who was the Director of the National Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), who is also an in-law. I had already decided to focus on local government taxation and was already working with the late Dr. Ruwa who was an expert in that field. When I went to register, I met my mentor and he asked what I wanted to register for and he told me there were already experts in that field that I wouldn't make much impact there, and he said I should choose a new area like women and development. Initially, I refused but I told him I would think about it.

     At that time, there was very little information about that field of study because it was relatively new. So, I started writing to various universities. I had to do a proposal to the department of economics in University of Ibadan that I wanted to do labour supply of women under labour economics. It was later accepted after many hiccups.

    In the course of my writing letters, I wrote to the Population Council for a book. I had to justify why I wanted to get the book. I was sent the book and the woman who brought the book told me that FORD foundation was ready to sponsor Researchers on Women issues. She linked me up after a chat at lunch, and that was how I got my first research grant on gender.

TE: So how would you say your career has been so far?

Prof: Like I said during my inaugural lecture, I have no regrets. I have won so many research grants, many consultancy jobs. I have been all over the world, free tickets on business class flights, lodgings in five-star hotels, so I have no regrets. It has been a very rewarding and challenging career academically and financially.

TE: Alright ma. At your inaugural lecture, your focus was on gender. Why gender issues?

Prof: It was because that is what I have been working on. I have worked on different aspects of gender - Gender and poverty, gender and education, gender and health. Unlike before, most fields have incorporated gender issues into their curriculum content today. Policies can only thrive or have the desired effects when they are focused on how they can help women, children and  the men as well. So, at that lecture, I just decided to review how much progress we had made on the issue of gender after talking about it for so many years.

TE: What is your take on the recent cashless economy policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria?

Prof: The cashless policy makes sense. When you go abroad people don't carry cash about, there is a limit to how much you can withdraw at a particular time. Carrying cash in bulk encourages corruption. It also fuels social vices like armed robbery. But it requires confidence to use such other alternative payment platforms and this is the area I would like the CBN to work more on. If the cashless economy policy is adequately implemented, it will help to reduce the incidence of corruption in the country.

TE:  Do we have the enabling environment especially basic infrastructure necessary for this policy to thrive?

Prof: The policy has been introduced, it is time to work hard at it. I do not believe we have to wait for all the pre-conditions to be met. We have to start somewhere. I believe the infrastructure needed to run the policy would evolve as the policy becomes more popular.

TE: the Nigerian vision 2020 is about eight years away from the target date of achievement. But We do not seem to be meeting up with the important benchmarks. What could be responsible for this.

Prof: It is good to have an ambition at least something to aim at but that is where it ends if you do not put the right modalities in place to ensure effective implementation. To me, it is not possible to exhaust all that is contained in the vision 2020. However ,we could achieve some at least. But with the current insecurity problem in Nigeria, investors would be discouraged to put their money in the economy. Again, you look at the power situation;To start a business now ,you have have to buy  a generator and maintain it. This raises the cost of production and stifles national productivity which is critical to achieving the NV 20: 2020 blueprint.Until the government provides the enabling environment,the country would not be able to achieve the vision 2020. 

TE: You were in the committee set up to draft the NEEDS 2 during the Olusegun Obansanjo dispensation, what would you say about the NEEDS?

Prof:  The NEEDS was aimed at ensuring poverty alleviation, increasing employment. It has almost the same focus with the vision 2020. Both blueprints were just saying the same thing in different ways but like I always say,  it is not about the policy; it is about implementation.

TE: we would like to know the various national committees that you have been part of and the various professional services to the Nigerian state.

Prof: What I am doing currently is rendering service(laughs). Ok, my major focus is on human capital development. I have produced several graduates you know. I have worked with many agencies as a Consultant especially in the area of poverty, gender and other salient economic issues. I have worked for the African Economic Research Consortium. I have also worked for the African Development Bank (ADB). I have worked with the federal ministry of Women affairs and Social Development. I was the Chairperson of the special interest committee for Women under the NEEDS 2. I have been a facilitator at several workshops for different agencies like the National Centre for Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA ). I helped to facilitate training programmes for public servants. I have worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA ) and many more. 

TE: Ma, please, tell us - what is the role of an Economist in national growth and development?

Prof: Well, when we were young, we used to read that the economist was to advise - that you analyse the situation and based on your analysis, you give your own policy recommendation. But most times, politicians could have their own selfish interests and if your recommendation does not tally with their interest, they would do away with it. But still, we cannot over-emphasize the role of the Economist in national development. However, as a good economist, you must always give an objective assessment of the situation and not a sentimental one.

TE: How would we reconcile politics with  Economics?

Prof: Politics and Economics are like Siamese twins. They would have to be reconciled for national transformation to take place. Unfortunately in Nigeria today, both realms are very antithetical to each other. This is unlike what is obtainable in some other climes where sanity exists. I hope with time, we would have better quality Politicians who are really interested in transforming the system. Of course, we can only achieve that when we get our democracy right.

TE: Ma, you have been a staunch advocate of women emancipation. However, official records suggest that women contribution to national GDP is still quite low, what do you say about this?

Prof: You could be right about that but the issue still remains that the contribution of Women to national GDP is still grossly under-estimated, and that is why we are advocating that We should start measuring Women contribution outside the labour market. It is only the contribution of those in the labour market that is currently being accounted for but the ones we are advocating for are those referred to as unpaid labour. The housewife who is not working in the labour market is excluded from the GDP but current research suggests that the unaccounted unpaid labour of Women could be as high as one-third of GDP.

TE: Ma, when we talk about gender equality, what exact picture are we trying to paint?

Prof: There are various interpretations of the concept of gender equality.  It is not that a woman is equal to a man. What we are campaigning for is equal opportunity devoid of discrimination. Women should be given equal opportunities as men. Women should be empowered to seek elective positions and to take up key appointments in government.

TE: Ma, if you were not an Economist, what would you have become?

Prof: Well, I do not really know what I would have studied but I had always wanted to study Economics but I know I would have been a Scholar somewhere because I loved to read books (smiles).

TE: Ma, would you tell us what you do for relaxation?

Prof: I hardly have time to relax nowadays but I used to belong to the University Choir those days. I love singing but am very busy these days. I get to really relax only when I travel out.

TE: How supportive has your husband been over your professional career?

Prof: My husband has been very supportive. He does not restrict me. He understands me. We learnt to accommodate each other. As a husband, you should pull your wife along as you climb up the ladder of success. For a woman to have a say in her home, she must contribute to family upkeep.

TE: How did you manage to strike a balance between family and career?

Prof: I took my time and pursued my career gently. I made sure I gave time to family life when my children were younger and when they became Adults, I had more time to pursue my career. Today, they are all doing well and responsible.

TE: Finally ma, what is your advice for young people especially students?

Prof:  The first and most important thing is to work hard. Be organized and set your priorities right. Whatever you want to do, always give it your best.  As I would always say, whatever your name will be attached to, do it well because you do not know who would have access to it tomorrow.

TE: It has been wonderful speaking to you ma. Hope you would oblige us the next time we call?

Prof: You are always welcome.