With her slim figure and firm handgrip, it is no doubt Robin Carnahan will pass a fitness test any day. It is also not surprising that with her looks, she is an avid runner, having completed five marathons. But what may surprise many who meet this instrument-rated pilot -without any introduction- on the streets of Lagos, during a recent visit arranged by United States (U.S.) Embassy to mark International Women’s Week, is that the simply dressed woman is the Secretary of State of Missouri, U.S. Her record of achievements is outstanding. Since she was first elected in 2004, Carnahan has focused on protecting consumers, cracking down on financial fraud, cutting costs and red tape for businesses, and ensuring fair elections. Her commitment to protecting investors and fighting against fraud has resulted in more than $10 billion being returned to tens of thousands of investors in Missouri and across the country. She has helped Missouri businesses save nearly $13 million through her continuing efforts to enable businesses and entrepreneurs file reports and documents on-line. Since coming to the Secretary of State’s office, Carnahan has modernised and improved Missouri’s elections system by implementing the State’s voter registration system, creating the state’s Missouri Voting Rights Centre, and launching a new interactive election results website. She has also successfully fought for the creation of, and currently administers, Missouri’s Safe at Home address confidentiality programme, which helps protect victims of domestic violence from continued abuse. Prior to her election, Carnahan had a successful career in business and law. She served at the Export-Import Bank of the United States where she explored innovative ways to help American companies increase their sale of goods and services abroad. She also specialised in business and corporate law at a major Missouri law firm. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Carnahan worked in central and Eastern Europe with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) helping to rebuild the region’s economies and governments by drafting voting laws, training new political leaders and monitoring elections. Carnahan, who visited Nigeria recently, exclusively spoke with The Guardian on her experience and what she learnt from Nigerian women and civil societies. She also spoke on investment, democracy and good governance among others. Excerpts:

YOU  have performed well in the area of protecting investors. Is this part of your duties or your government’s promise to the electorate?

One of the duties of the Secretary of State in Missouri is to oversee businesses – that is both the licensing and registration of new businesses. So, I try to cut costs and red tape and save people’s money in doing that. But I also protect investors from businesses that are not raising money. However, that has to be done according to the rules to prevent any kind of scams or misrepresentations. I have gotten back about $10 billion dollars for people who have been wronged through misappropriations and scams and we are very proud of that record.

Why are you in Nigeria?

I’m here at the request of the United States (U.S.) Embassy to celebrate with Nigerian women on their history week. It’s something we celebrate in the U.S. We, all around the world, celebrate International Women’s Day. In the U.S., we use a whole month in celebrating women. I’m here to talk about how to give women a more public life and get elected into public offices.

Are there any special things you have discovered on your trip around Nigeria?

Everybody knows around the world about the natural assets of Nigeria. The human assets in this country are equally impressive. But I hope soon that all of those assets would be put to use and that means, including all the women.

Initially, it is believed that with entrenchment of democracy in African countries, problem of the countries would be tackled. But with democracy now taking root on the continent, people are questioning the quality of democracy and the leadership. What do you think is responsible?

I think people should not confuse the word democracy. In some people’s mind, it’s just about going to vote and making sure those votes get counted. With having a government that is truly accountable, it can be a different thing. I think people will argue that the elections that happened in Nigeria last year reflected the will of Nigerians. But some people that I’ve spoken to this week in Nigeria have wondered about the accountability of the leaders. And so, I feel one of the things the leaders need to focus on is how to be more transparent in what they do and how money is spent and where the riches of this country go to and make sure that people really feel that the resources of the nation are benefitting everyone.

From your experience, how would you describe the demand of public office and people’s expectation for delivery of democracy dividends?

The position of public service is a public trust. It is not about personal benefit but about doing things for the public benefits and I think sometimes, there’s some skepticism on some part of some Nigerians about if public office holders are working for the people’s benefit or for their own selfish interests.

Everybody who is elected to the office needs to understand what their responsibility is. They need to be devoted. They should be careful with public money and make sure it’s spent well for the country.

In the State of Missouri, you have created the required impact in promoting investors’ interest despite the global meltdown. What lessons can Nigeria learn from your experience?

There are a lot of other countries in the world that had economic collapses during the economic downturn and in the U.S we have made sure we have tougher laws to make sure banks are acting appropriately. So, all you can do is ensure that elected officials do the right thing with policies and require the banks and financial institutions to help their customers. If they don’t, enforce the laws to make sure there is a penalty for not doing that. So, it’s both about having good laws and good policies and enforcing them in courts.

Absolutely, more investments will come to a country where the investors feel like they are clear about what the laws are going to be applied and any kind of disputes that’s fundamental in any place in the world and I know that in Nigeria, if the government desires more foreign investments, I think that the system that you use here becomes more transparent for businesses. So fundamentally, it’s about having predictability and transparency about your business clients and laws, that is what attracts new investment.

How can Nigerian government and companies encourage women to take their place in the corporate world?

We are living in a time, when women are growing in their economic power, and with that comes more experience that makes them more valuable in this corporate world and other business settings. So, at the end, it’s going to be about economics and once the folks who own these businesses understand that women actually bring a lot of values and perspectives and that a lot of their customers are women, then they would start to do more of that. So to me, it makes economic sense to empower women.

What is your advise to women who are at the top of corporate world now?

Everyone comes to their positions with talents and skills and I would say they must use them well and make sure that they speak out on issues that are going to be beneficial to the company and also figure out how to mentor young women, so they can follow in their footsteps.

As you’re leaving the country, what is your message to Nigerians?

The women have got voices that need to be heard and I also think that if you look at economic empowerment around the world, the higher the economic empowerment of women, the better our families are and the better the entire economy is.

So, in terms of what will make good sense for Nigeria as a country, in terms of expanding its economic growth and power, empowering women is the way to go.

I think the women in Nigeria have all kinds of talents and we are in a world of growing competitions. No country can leave 50 per cent of its valued assets behind when it’s looking to compete with rest of the world and Nigeria has some fantastic assets in its women- they are educated, tough and smart and energetic and if I were the leader in Nigeria, I would want to put them to work to help me grow businesses and run the country.

I’m very optimistic about the future of Nigeria. I think there’s a lot of work to be done but you are in a transition moment and I think the nation must focus on young people. To make a change, every step of the journey is an important one and I know that Nigeria is moving in that direction.

-Guardian

Posted by admin on May 7 2012. Filed under Headlines, Women Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry