Society cannot progress unless unless men and women, young and old, have equal chances to achieve their potential, the Chairman of Media Trust Limited, Malam Kabiru A. Yusuf has said.

Yusuf made the remark at the 7th Annual Trust Dialogue with the theme 'The African Woman and Politics' in Abuja yesterday. "It is accepted by even the most obdurate male chauvinist, that women are the natural partners of men in the home. But when it comes to their role in wider society, in the economy, politics, art and culture, many men are unwilling to concede them their due. But society cannot progress unless all of us, men and women, young and old, have equal chance to achieve our potential," he said.

He commended ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo who was the chairman of the occasion, for appointing more women into his cabinet and other arms of government, than any other previous administration, during his tenure as civilian president from 1999 to 2007.

He said the Obasanjo government was the first in Nigeria, to give women high profile positions such as Minister for Finance, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Defence, Minister for Education, A justice of the Supreme Court and Nigeria's representative at the United Nations.

Guest speakers at the occasion included Winnie Madhikizela Mandela, Senator Bucknor-Akerele, Samia Iyaba Christina Nkrumah and Hajia Naja'atu Mohammed.