Newly inaugurated President of the International Women Society (IWS), Ifemena Oji, has set out an ambitious leadership agenda centred on women’s economic empowerment, strategic partnerships and stronger internal community-building, declaring that the time had come to move from conversation to construction in advancing women’s progress.
Speaking during her investiture at the Ballroom of Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Oji said her administration would focus on translating advocacy into measurable outcomes for women, particularly entrepreneurs seeking access to skills, markets, networks and capital.
Under the theme, The Power of Now: Honouring our Legacy, Mobilizing for the Future, she accepted the role with what she described as humility, gratitude and a clear sense of purpose, while paying tribute to the outgoing executives for their stewardship and commitment to sustaining the society’s legacy.
Oji framed her emergence as president against the larger backdrop of women’s economic participation and the structural barriers that continue to limit scale and opportunity for many women-led enterprises.
“Around the world, there is no longer any doubt about the importance of women’s economic participation. When women thrive economically, families become more stable, communities become stronger, and economies grow.”
She, however, argued that many women still operate within systems that restrict their ability to scale, access capital and fully realise the potential of their businesses.
In one of the defining lines of her speech, Oji said the challenge before women-focused institutions was no longer whether to advocate, but how to build structures that can produce tangible impact.
“Our work cannot stop at advocacy alone. Advocacy must be accompanied by action. Action must be supported by structure. And structure must lead to measurable outcomes,” she said, positioning the International Women Society as a bridge between women entrepreneurs and the ecosystem of support required for sustainable growth.
Central to that vision is Momentum, a programme she described as a practical model for women’s empowerment. According to her, the initiative reflects an understanding that women entrepreneurs need more than encouragement; they need access to skills, markets, networks and capital.
Through the programme, the society aims to support women-led enterprises, strengthen their operational capacity, prepare them for investment readiness and connect them to opportunities that can help their businesses grow sustainably. She said the true measure of success would not be in statistics alone, but in the transformation of women’s lives, stronger businesses, more jobs and improved economic security for families and communities.
She also stressed that no single institution could drive such progress in isolation, calling instead for deeper collaboration across the private sector, development institutions, investors and civil society. “Real progress requires partnership,” she said, noting that the International Women Society was uniquely positioned to serve as a connector within that ecosystem.
Outlining the priorities that will define her tenure, Oji said her administration would focus on three key pillars: deepening programmes that support women’s economic empowerment, strengthening strategic partnerships that expand access to markets and investment, and building a stronger community within the society through mentorship, collaboration and shared learning.
She urged members to remain actively engaged in shaping the future of the organisation by mentoring, collaborating and opening doors for others. “Progress is rarely achieved in isolation. It is achieved through networks of support and shared commitment,” she said.
Beyond the membership of the society, Oji also directed part of her message to younger women building businesses or searching for direction, telling them that leadership is not reserved for a privileged few. Rather, she said, it is built through courage, preparation and persistence, especially when backed by the right support systems and opportunities.
