From the early hours, the venue bustled with anticipation as participants filed into the hall, exchanging pleasantries and settling into conversations that reflected both curiosity and ambition. Soft chatter filled the room as professionals, entrepreneurs, and policymakers gathered for another session of the Guardian Woman Festival, a gathering designed to spark conversations on women’s empowerment and leadership.
The ambience blended elegance with purpose. Attendees, many dressed in vibrant attire, moved between networking circles and discussion spaces, reflecting the collaborative spirit that has come to define the yearly event. For many in the room, the festival not only offered an opportunity for dialogue but also a platform to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and amplify women’s voices across sectors.
That was the atmosphere at the event, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of a month-long programme celebrating women’s contributions to business, governance, and social development.
Themed ‘Reciprocity,’ the event focused on the importance of collaboration, digital innovation, and structural reforms in enabling women to thrive in business and leadership.
Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian, Toke Alex-Ibru, described the festival as a deliberate attempt to create flexible spaces where women can engage meaningfully despite their demanding schedules.
He said this year’s edition is particularly significant as the festival is now in its third year, adding that the initiative was first launched in March 2024 and that its approach is centred on choice and flexibility.
Alex-Ibru noted that the structure recognises the realities many women face while balancing multiple responsibilities He said women are constantly juggling different commitments and that numerous events take place during the month, meaning not everyone can attend the same programme on the same day.
He explained further that the month-long structure of the festival allows participants to take part in sessions that align with their schedules rather than limiting engagement to a single day.
Alex-Ibru further noted that the Guardian Woman platform has expanded beyond its original role as a magazine brand. He said he was pleased to see that the vision behind creating the Guardian Woman title has grown into a live media platform now known as the Guardian Women Festival. He stressed that Guardian Woman now goes beyond publishing articles and has become a space for engagement, conversations and networking.
He also explained that several events had taken place throughout the month as part of the festival.
Alex-Ibru said the opening ceremony was held on March 1 to formally begin the month-long programme. He added that a press conference took place the following day to announce the start of the festival’s activities. He noted that the festival has hosted several partner events involving organisations focused on finance, wellness and professional development. He further acknowledged the role of the Federal Palace Hotel in supporting the initiative.
Alex-Ibru said the partnership with the hotel has helped provide a space where conversations about women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and wellbeing can take place.
The keynote speaker, Country Head of Zoho Nigeria, Kehinde Ogundare, emphasised the importance of reciprocity in building strong professional relationships and sustainable business environments. He said the discussion aimed to examine both the opportunities and limitations that exist in today’s economic environment while also highlighting the strategies individuals and organisations can adopt to strengthen collaboration.
Ogundare explained that reciprocity is commonly understood as a system of give and take but noted that in professional relationships, it involves creating value for others while also building long-term trust.
He said organisations must begin to prioritise partnerships and knowledge sharing because strong ecosystems are built when individuals intentionally support each other’s growth.
Ogundare stressed that sustainable professional networks depend on mutual trust and consistent value creation. According to him, relationships built purely on transactions often struggle to endure, while those based on collaboration and shared growth tend to last longer.
He also highlighted the role of digital transformation in shaping modern business relationships.
Ogundare said technological advancement has created new opportunities for partnerships across industries, making collaboration increasingly important for business success.
The first panel session of the festival titled, ‘Women in the Business of Digital Innovation’ examined how women can strengthen their presence in professional and leadership spaces.
CEO of Women Radio, Ayodeji Alakija-Ajeh, spoke about the importance of confidence and participation within professional environments.
She disclosed that early in her career, she often remained silent during meetings despite having ideas to contribute.
According to her, the silence was not because she lacked knowledge but because she was waiting for the perfect moment to speak. Alakija-Ajeh explained that many women struggle with the pressure to appear flawless before contributing in professional settings. She said attempting to achieve perfection often prevents individuals from participating fully in discussions.
She revealed that she eventually changed her approach by focusing on contribution rather than perfection, saying she began asking questions earlier during meetings and sharing her perspectives more openly.
Alakija-Ajeh explained that over time, colleagues stopped questioning whether she belonged in those spaces because her voice became part of the conversation.
She also highlighted the difference between authority and influence in leadership, noting that authority can compel action while influence encourages people to align with a shared vision.
Another major presentation during the event focused on the importance of strengthening the care economy in Nigeria.
Founder of Caring Africa, Blessing Adesiyan, described care infrastructure as an essential component of economic growth.
She explained that Caring Africa was established to address the growing gap in childcare and caregiving services available to families and institutions.
According to her, strengthening care systems will enable more women to participate fully in the workforce, adding that Nigeria’s population growth has made the development of structured care services increasingly urgent.
Adesiyan noted that Nigeria is projected to become the third most populous country in the world, stressing that the country must develop reliable childcare and eldercare systems to meet the needs of families and working professionals.
She explained that caregiving arrangements in Nigeria are largely informal, noting that many families rely on individuals without professional training to look after children and elderly relatives.
She said this situation highlights the need to formalise the sector while creating standards for caregivers, adding that developing structured care services could also generate employment opportunities.
Adesiyan explained that professionalising caregiving roles would create jobs while ensuring better safety and welfare for families. She revealed that efforts are ongoing to develop a national care policy that will strengthen the sector.
According to her, discussions are currently taking place with both Lagos State authorities and federal institutions to establish frameworks that support childcare and caregiving services across the country.
The second panel session of the festival titled, ‘Women in the Business of Boardroom Leadership’ examined ways to expand women’s participation in corporate decision-making.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, Cynthia Ikponmwosa, highlighted the impact of financial inclusion on women’s economic empowerment.
She said empowering women strengthens families while also supporting community development.
Ikponmwosa explained that women make up a large portion of the bank’s customers, revealing that more than 65 per cent of LAPO Microfinance Bank’s customer base consists of women operating small and medium-scale businesses.
She said improving women’s access to financial services can significantly increase their participation in economic activities, emphasising the importance of diversity within leadership structures.
She explained that organisations benefit from diverse leadership teams because different perspectives contribute to better decision-making.
Executive Director of WIMBIZ, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, also addressed the importance of professional networks in helping women secure boardroom positions .
She said research shows that a large number of board appointments are influenced by referrals and nominations.
According to her, more than 70 per cent of board positions are filled through professional networks rather than open applications.
Akingbohungbe, therefore, encouraged women to intentionally build networks that provide mentorship, visibility and leadership opportunities.
She explained that board membership requires more than technical competence, noting that individuals serving on boards must also demonstrate character, emotional intelligence and strategic thinking.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), Ekemini Akpakpan, highlighted structural barriers that have historically limited women’s representation in leadership positions.
She explained that many governance systems were originally created during periods when women had limited participation in decision-making processes.
According to her, this historical structure still influences how leadership opportunities are distributed, stressing the need for deliberate reforms within institutions to create more inclusive leadership pathways.
She said organisations must review existing policies and governance structures to ensure they support women’s advancement into senior roles.
Akpakpan emphasised that collaboration between the private sector, civil society organisations and policymakers will be essential in expanding opportunities for women within leadership spaces.
