Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening women’s leadership, driving policy reform, and accelerating national transformation at its 2025 Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference (ALMC), held recently at The Civic Centre, Lagos.
The conference convened policymakers, business leaders, development partners, civil society actors, professional bodies, and emerging leaders for high-level dialogue under the theme “Claiming Our Future: Women in Leadership and Policy Transformation.” Discussions focused on advancing inclusive leadership, strengthening governance systems, and positioning women as key drivers of Nigeria’s development agenda.
Representing the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to gender-responsive governance and partnerships that expand women’s leadership. She noted that Lagos State recognises women’s leadership as a strategic national asset and remains committed to supporting institutions like WISCAR that are building the next generation of female leaders.
In her keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, underscored the transformative power of purposeful female leadership, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on systems that enable women to lead, influence, and innovate at scale.
“Nigeria’s future cannot be built without women at the decision-making table. When women lead, institutions become stronger, communities become safer, and societies become more prosperous,” she said.
Professor Ogunsola advocated for bold and deliberate policy reforms that expand opportunities for women, citing the impact of women-led advocacy in shaping child rights legislation and gender-responsive budgeting. She emphasised that policy remains the most powerful lever for sustainable transformation, noting that excluding women from policy spaces ultimately excludes them from shaping the nation’s future.
In her address, Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, described gender inclusion as both a national and economic imperative. Reflecting on WISCAR’s 17-year journey, she noted that the organisation has consistently equipped women with the competence, confidence, and courage to lead across sectors.
“Beyond empowerment, we must claim our future through leadership, accountability, and collective action,” Oyagbola said. She highlighted global evidence showing that closing gender gaps in labour force participation could add USD 28 trillion to global GDP, while Africa could gain USD 316 billion by 2030 by increasing women’s economic participation. She also pointed out that companies with gender-diverse leadership are more profitable, innovative, and better governed.
Oyagbola raised concern about Nigeria’s persistent leadership imbalance, noting that women occupy less than 10 percent of elective offices nationwide and that the country has never had a female President, Vice President, or State Governor. While acknowledging progress in the private sector, she added that although women hold 31.1 percent of board seats, only 10 percent of boards are chaired by women.
The conference also marked the graduation of the first cohort of the Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP), a flagship initiative funded by the Gates Foundation and implemented in collaboration with FIDA Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The programme equipped 105 mid-career legal professionals with structured mentorship, leadership development, and exposure to policy and justice sector reforms, addressing critical gaps in women’s representation within Nigeria’s legal and public sector ecosystem.
In addition, the conference amplified the collective advocacy agenda of the Nigeria Women in Leadership Coalition, comprising WISCAR, WIMBIZ, WILAN, and the Nigeria Governors Forum. The coalition is championing three priority national reforms: 35 percent female representation in federal and state cabinets; 35 percent women on boards and in executive management of listed companies; and the adoption of a modern labour policy providing at least 16 weeks paid maternity leave and 14 days paid paternity leave by 2027. These reforms have received the endorsement of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
The 2025 ALMC also recognised excellence and allyship through two awards. The newly established Ambassador Abdullahi & Amina Atta HeForShe Award honoured a distinguished male ally for outstanding commitment to gender equity, while the Professor Grace Alele-Williams Alumni Impact Award was presented to Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters, Founder of PAWEN, in recognition of her exceptional leadership and transformative contributions to her sector.
With over 17,000 women empowered since its inception, WISCAR continues to serve as a catalyst for national transformation. Outcomes and recommendations from the 2025 ALMC will inform the organisation’s ongoing advocacy efforts, ensuring that conversations from the conference translate into sustained institutional and policy impact across Nigeria.
