In a powerful address, Mrs. Olaide Turner-Moyet, the Director of Alliance Française in Ibadan, has called on women to radically redefine their understanding of womanhood. She urged them to stop seeing femininity as a mere societal label and to start embracing it as a potent, creative force capable of driving significant change.
Turner-Moyet, a respected artist, art educator, and Pan-Africanist, articulated a vision where womanhood becomes a powerful channel for nurturing visions and birthing transformative ideas for society.
Leading with Humanity, Not Just Gender
Clarifying her leadership philosophy, Turner-Moyet stated that her drive to lead stems from her core humanity, not her gender. "I don't lead because I'm a woman. I lead because I'm human, driven by empathy, love, and purpose," she explained. However, she gracefully acknowledged that her feminine qualities profoundly shape her approach. "I acknowledge that as a woman, my nurturing instincts influence my leadership style. I want to see everyone in this space thrive, grow, and feel safe."
She described women as "divine beings who carry life, not just physically but ideologically," pushing women in leadership to view their roles as direct extensions of the act of creation. For her, female leadership should be about nurturing visions, birthing groundbreaking ideas, and fiercely protecting what is truly valuable in our communities.
Art as a Tool for Healing and Community
As a staunch advocate for the transformative power of art, Turner-Moyet has pioneered several initiatives that merge creativity with community well-being. She is the force behind the Young Artists Art Hub and the Art Therapy Party, both designed to combine therapeutic practices with artistic expression and community engagement.
Furthermore, she facilitates the PneumArt Workshop under the broader Pneuma-City Project. This project aims to promote mental wellness, sustainable development, and social inclusion through creative workshops. "Art helps us ask who we are, who we want to be, and to tell new stories—stories of integrity, creativity, and community," she reflected on the profound impact of her work.
A Message of Resilience to Aspiring Women Leaders
Offering candid advice to young women with leadership aspirations, Turner-Moyet did not sugarcoat the journey. She affirmed that the path would be challenging, but emphasized that every experience serves a purpose. "The journey will not be easy. But every experience, good or bad, is shaping you into a leader with depth, resilience, and compassion," she advised.
She encouraged them to fully embrace their personal stories, learn from them, and when their moment to lead arrives, to do so with a blend of wisdom and deep empathy. For her, the essence of effective leadership and creativity lies in achieving a delicate balance.
She champions a harmony between intellect and emotion, structure and spontaneity. Her final counsel was a call to purposeful living: "Work smart, not just hard. Think creatively. Live meaningfully. Pursue a life that truly matters."
Through her multifaceted work at Alliance Française and her various community projects, Olaide Turner-Moyet continues to masterfully weave together art, language, and a profound sense of humanity. She stands as a living testament that womanhood is not a limitation to be overcome, but a luminous and powerful force actively shaping a better future for all.
The event, which took place on November 8, 2025, culminated with the AWIEF Awards and Gala Dinner, a ceremony dedicated to celebrating the outstanding achievements of African women entrepreneurs and innovators.
