The Guardian flagship event has officially launched the month-long Guardian Woman Festival in partnership with Federal Palace Hotel, marking a significant expansion of its annual celebration, as Nigeria’s first full month women-focused festival. Click here to register for the Guardian Woman Festival.

The event witnessed an array of attendees from various sectors and walks of life adding colour and poise to the evening which radiated a force that births the theme, ‘Reciprocity.’

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Executive Director, Federal Palace Hotel/ Chief Strategy Officer, Global, The Guardian Newspaper, Anita Athena Ibru, said the transformation from a one- or two-day event into a month-long festival reflects Guardian Woman’s vision to create an annual cultural platform that fosters learning, engagement and celebration around women’s lives and achievements.

She paid tribute to her late father, Alex Ibru, describing him as a man who raised six daughters and two sons with equal educational opportunities and encouraged all his children to return to Nigeria to continue his business legacy if they wished.

As the newly appointed Executive Director at Federal Palace Hotel, Ms. Ibru described herself as a Woman in Hospitality, explaining that the role carries responsibility beyond operations while emphasised the importance of driving women growth and development.

According to her, the choice of venue carries historical symbolism. Federal Palace Hotel holds a prominent place in Nigeria’s history, having hosted key events around the country’s independence in 1960. This year also marks Nigeria’s 65th year of independence, a milestone Ibru said aligns with the themes of culture and tradition central to the festival.

“We are officially launching Federal Palace today as the destination to celebrate, to acknowledge and to learn about the lives of women,” she said, encouraging organisations and individuals to host smaller, intentional events throughout the month at the property.

The March calendar includes sector-related launches, wellness activities, health awareness days and themed social events, including special ladies’ nights at the hotel’s casino. Beyond serious discussions traditionally associated with March, Ibru stressed the importance of encouraging women to rest and reward themselves. “We also want to inspire women to give themselves a break,” she added.

Describing hospitality, Chief of Staff at Federal Palace Hotel, Yemisi Fajimolu said Federal Palace Service is not transactional but seen as stewardship. Being in the hospitality industry is about anticipating people’s needs even if they are not aware of it and providing it.

“When you enter my space, you are not just a client. You are entrusted to me,” she said, adding that her standard is that every guest leaves elevated, satisfied and inspired.
Fajimolu connected the celebration of Women’s Month with Nigeria’s broader journey since independence, highlighting significant growth in women’s access to education, leadership roles in business and entrepreneurship, and participation in politics and governance.

“Women’s independence is the freedom to learn, to work, to lead and to make choices with confidence and dignity. When women are educated, economically empowered and politically represented, societies become more inclusive, more prosperous and more resilient.”

To commemorate the month, the hotel announced special room, food-and-beverage discounts throughout March, encouraging families and partners to celebrate women during the festival.

Seasoned investment expert, Dr. Michale Matthew, reflected on her transition into hospitality asset management and tourism development. She shared memories of early professional retreats hosted at Federal Palace Hotel in the 1990s and spoke about the financial realities of developing hospitality assets in Nigeria, including funding gaps, long return cycles and structural challenges in construction financing.

“Funding is a fundamental gap today,” she said, noting that hospitality investments often require long-term capital and patient restructuring before profitability can be realised.

She also highlighted service quality as an area requiring continuous improvement, emphasising attention to detail and mindset shifts within the sector. For her, being a “woman in hospitality” means approaching assets with instincts and a multi-layered perspective.

“As soon as you come in, you can tell ten things that are not in place,” she said, adding that women often bring heightened awareness to service