At the inaugural Kenya edition of the Voice of Africa Leadership Summit (VOALS), stakeholders have called for African women to take greater ownership of their voices, identities and influence in shaping the continent’s future.
  
The four-day event held at the International Argyle Grand Hotel, Nairobi, recently was convened by the founder of VOALS, Dr. Yetunde Folami, bringing together business leaders, executive coaches, philanthropists, mentors and other changemakers from Nigeria, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  
The summit focused on leadership, mentorship, influence and the need to create stronger platforms for women to participate meaningfully in decision-making across Africa.
  
The programme commenced with an outreach to the University of Nairobi, where students of the Faculty of Pharmacy received an empowerment lecture and gifts from Folami and the Amsha Africa Foundation.
  
Modupe Mabawonku and Uche O’Keem also spoke to the students, emphasising the importance of service and impact as essential components of effective leadership.
  
Speaking on the titled, ‘Leadership Renaissance: Reclaiming Identity, Voice and Influence’, Folami urged African women to confidently occupy leadership spaces and use their influence to contribute to the development of their communities and the continent.
  
Executive coach, Bola Matel-Okoh, in her session, “Owning Your Authority: The Inner Work of Leadership,” examined the personal transformation required for effective public leadership.

Similarly, Dr. Wale Akinyemi, who spoke on “Human-Centred Leadership in Complex Systems,” advocated leadership approaches founded on empathy, adaptability and an understanding of increasingly complex social and economic realities.

A fireside conversation involving Akinyemi, Matel-Okoh, Lillian Ngala and Folami further examined the values, vision and influence required to shape Africa’s leadership future.
  
Other sessions included, “Amplified: The Modern Executive Woman’s Playbook for Voice, Power and Influence,” featuring Titi Ikhile, Nellie Kinyanjui and Oladoyin Taiwo.

A panel on “Beyond the Title: The Untold Stories of Women Who Lead” featured Dr. Patricia Murugami, Essie Daniel, Olugbesoye Olujimi and Michelle Wanjiku, while Dr. Winifred Meme addressed the role of mentorship in strengthening women’s leadership across generations.
  
The summit also featured the inaugural VOALS Awards, which recognised women for their contributions to leadership, enterprise, innovation and community development.

Matel-Okoh received the Leadership Renaissance Award, while Dr. Adeshola Cole-Alegbe, CEO of Tritek Consulting UK and Tritek Academy, received the Legacy of Excellence Award. Other award recipients included Foluke Adedokun of FruitieWorld; Mercy Achola, founder of Value Connect; Cynthia Marebs, COO of Streethub and founder of Early Blessings; Lillian Ngala, HR Director and founder of the Lillian Ngala Network; and Nwayigwe Okpa, founder and executive director of Grace Give Back World.