The WILAN Women’s Leadership Institute (WWLI) has launched, ushering in women’s history month and marking a significant step in advancing women’s leadership development across Africa through a values-driven, formation-focused approach.
The Institute was unveiled at an intimate leadership dinner in Lagos, bringing together senior women leaders, founders, creatives, professionals, and members of the Institute’s founding faculty. The gathering marked the formal beginning of WWLI’s work as a leadership formation house committed to shaping not just what women do, but who they become as leaders.
Founded by Abosede George-Ogan, the WILAN Institute builds on over seven years of impact through WILAN’s non-profit work, which has reached thousands of women across sectors through leadership training, mentorship, media, and advocacy.
According to her, “The reality is that the world and most workplaces were not designed for women to thrive. While many women have found ways to succeed despite this, far too many are still navigating leadership without the support, clarity, or systems they need. The WILAN Institute exists to change that.”
In a world where knowledge is increasingly abundant and accessible, the WILAN Institute positions itself not as a traditional training school or content provider, but as a leadership formation house, one that curates pathways, builds inner capacity, and accelerates proximity to influence.
The Institute’s work focuses on leadership formation, not just skill acquisition, clear pathway curation for early, mid, and senior-career women; values-anchored leadership, grounded in integrity, service, and long-term impact; bridging women to influence, through proximity, networks, and institutional partnerships.
Through its leadership companion for women, BIIRD also unveiled by the Institute is its flagship digital leadership companion app. BIIRD supports women with reflection tools, accountability structures, guided prompts, and progress tracking to help translate leadership intention into consistent action.
Designed to complement, not replace human learning and community, BIIRD serves as a daily companion for women navigating their leadership journey across all sectors.
The WILAN Institute will roll out a suite of programmes in 2026, including: Stage-specific leadership courses for early, mid, and senior-career women. Hybrid and in-person flagship leadership programmes. Curated leadership experiences focused on influence, decision-making, and legacy.
The Institute’s long-term vision is to impact 100,000 women by 2032, contributing to more inclusive, ethical, and effective leadership across Africa’s public, private, and civic sectors.
“At the WILAN Institute, who you are becoming matters more than what you are called. That belief is at the heart of everything we are building,” George-Ogan said.
