The 24th Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) Annual Conference concluded with powerful calls for women to embrace leadership roles and drive national transformation. Held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, the two-day event brought together thousands of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
Political Leaders Champion Women's Advancement
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration's commitment to women's leadership, equity, and inclusion as essential for sustainable development. Represented by Commerce Commissioner Mrs. Folashade Ambrose, the governor highlighted WIMBIZ's impressive 24-year legacy of empowering over 15,000 women through mentorship and leadership programs.
Sanwo-Olu revealed significant progress in women's representation within Lagos State governance, noting that over 40% of his executive council members and more than half of the state's permanent secretaries are women. He described this achievement as unprecedented in Nigerian governance and announced plans to introduce unconscious bias awareness tools across ministries.
The governor emphasized women's critical economic role, pointing out that women lead nearly 60% of Lagos's 3.5 million MSMEs, contributing substantially to Nigeria's GDP. He concluded with a powerful statement: "When women rise, economies grow; when women lead, communities thrive; and when women own, walk, and nurture, nations transform."
Global Leaders Challenge Status Quo
Former World Bank Treasurer Arunma Oteh delivered a stirring keynote address, returning to the WIMBIZ stage after 14 years. She expressed excitement about WIMBIZ's growth, noting the organization has impacted 340,000 women, touched 78,000 families, and mentored 10,000 young girls through its Next Generation program.
Oteh presented sobering statistics about Nigeria's gender representation gap, revealing the country ranks 143 out of 144 nations in women's political representation. She noted Nigeria has no female president, vice president, or senate president, with only four female senators out of 109.
The economist issued a direct challenge to women regarding the 2027 elections: "The men are already organising for 2027. So, what are you doing in preparation? Are you registered? Do you have your PVCs? How will you ensure your votes count?" She shared her leadership philosophy built on four attributes: Character, Competence, Compassion, and Courage.
Organizational Growth and Institutional Milestones
WIMBIZ Executive Director Omowunmi Akingbohungbe reflected on her two-year leadership journey, describing it as an amazing and eye-opening experience. She acknowledged progress in bridging gender gaps but emphasized the ongoing nature of this work.
Under her leadership, WIMBIZ has formed the Women in Leadership Coalition with WISCAR and the Nigerian Governors' Forum, targeting at least 35% female representation on corporate boards and in government cabinets. Akingbohungbe highlighted advocacy for progressive labor reforms, including a minimum of 16 weeks maternity leave with full pay and two weeks paternity leave.
Significant institutional achievements include acquiring WIMBIZ's headquarters and a hectare of land on Lekki-Epe Expressway for a future WIMBIZ Resource Facility, ensuring sustainable leadership preparation for women.
Personal Transformation and Authentic Leadership
Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, delivered a heartfelt reflection on identity and self-acceptance. She shared her personal struggles with self-worth, recounting how she once believed she had no value to offer the world.
"The journey from that anxious young lady to the woman standing before you today is more than a story of personal transformation," she stated, "it is a testament to the untapped potential within every woman to rewrite her story and create a new chapter at any time."
She urged women to detach their identity from external validations like career or marriage, emphasizing that success should not become a source of silence or insecurity. "You are already capable. You are already enough," she affirmed.
Strategic Sessions and Intergenerational Collaboration
The conference featured multiple plenary sessions addressing various aspects of women's development and leadership:
The Wealth Playbook session explored financial literacy and sustainable economic growth with experts from Mastercard, FirstBank, and Chapel Hill Denham.
Leading from the Inside Out focused on balancing ambition, vulnerability, and purpose, with leaders from Global Citizen, Nigeria Bottling Company, TotalEnergies, and MultiChoice Group.
In Her Lane highlighted the value of purpose-driven work beyond public recognition, featuring entrepreneurs and sustainability experts.
Wellness as a Journey championed holistic wellbeing as an intentional lifestyle with health and wellness professionals.
Rethink, Reframe, Revitalise emphasized intergenerational collaboration as a driver of shared progress across generations.
The conference also celebrated pioneering women in law, honoring trailblazers including the First Female President of the Nigerian Bar Association, First Female Chief Justice of Nigeria, and First Female SAN of Nigeria, among other distinguished legal professionals.
