Country Head, Zoho Nigeria, Kehinde Ogundare has stressed on the importance of reciprocity, collaboration, digital innovation and structural support systems in advancing women’s participation in business and leadership.
He made this submission during his keynote address at the 2026 Guardian Woman Festival, themed Reciprocity. The festival featured a series of panel sessions and presentations, including discussions on digital innovation, boardroom leadership, social impact, and the care economy.
The keynote session highlighted the role of reciprocity in building sustainable professional relationships.
According to Ogundare, reciprocity goes beyond exchange, focusing on creating value, fostering trust, and enabling long-term partnerships.
He described reciprocity as more than a system of exchange, explaining that it involves creating value for others while fostering long-term trust. According to him, organisations must prioritise partnerships and knowledge sharing to build strong ecosystems.
Ogundare added that relationships built solely on transactions often fail to endure, while those grounded in collaboration and shared growth tend to be more sustainable.
He also highlighted the role of digital transformation in shaping modern business interactions, noting that technology has expanded opportunities for cross-industry collaboration.
Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Nigeria, Toke Alex-Ibru, described the initiative as a deliberate effort to create flexible spaces that allow women to engage meaningfully despite demanding schedules.
He explained that the festival, now in its third year since its launch in March 2024, was designed with a structure centred on choice and flexibility, which recognises the realities many women face while balancing multiple responsibilities.
He highlighted the growth of the Guardian Women platform, noting that it has evolved from a magazine brand into a dynamic engagement platform.
A panel session, on ‘Women in the Business of Digital Innovation’, examined strategies for strengthening women’s presence in leadership and professional spaces. Panelists noted that confidence and active participation are critical for influence, urging women to move beyond the pressure of perfection and focus on meaningful contribution. They added that leadership influence is driven more by alignment with shared goals than authority.
Sales Manager, Zoho Nigeria, Zubaida Aliyu, highlighted the role of technology in scaling and business growth, saying that it helps people manage their services or products efficiently. She also emphasised the importance of adaptability.
CEO Women Radio, Ayodeji Alakija-Ajeh, said that attempting to achieve perfection often prevents individuals from participating fully in discussions, while urging women to focus on contribution rather than perfection.
Founder, Female Techpreneur, Bukky Babajide, emphasized the need to prioritise structure over noise, noting that sustainable progress depends on building clear systems rather than reacting to distractions. She stressed that many challenges persist because of a lack of organized frameworks to support growth and development.
While co-founder, YALO, Morenike Omotalade, said reciprocity means value being transferred. She said inclusion and profit should balance each other.
