Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON; business leader and philanthropist, Apostle Folorunso Alakija; Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi and other prominent leaders are expected at the 10th Voice of Women Conference & Awards (VOW2026), scheduled for October 6 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Organised by the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation (VOWEF), in partnership with Women Radio WFM 91.7, the 10th anniversary edition, themed “A Decade of Voices and Impact,” will bring together women leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, grassroots women, young women, students, civil society organisations, development partners, media professionals and advocates from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Rather than focus solely on its decade-long journey, the conference will examine the future of women and girls, with particular attention to leadership, political participation, intergenerational collaboration and economic empowerment.
One of the key sessions, “The Power of Women: Across Generations — Shaping What Comes Next,” will bring together women at different stages of leadership to explore how experience, fresh perspectives and collective action can strengthen women’s participation and influence in society.
The conference will also spotlight five women contesting the 2027 elections, providing a platform to discuss women’s political participation, leadership and representation in decision-making.
Beyond the conversations, VOW2026 will provide direct economic support to women, with Asha Microfinance Bank set to award grants to 10 women to support their businesses and economic aspirations.
Another major highlight will be the VOW2026 Awards, which will recognise individuals, organisations, companies and government institutions contributing to the advancement of women, families and society. Categories include Lifetime Achievement Award, Family-Focused Organisation Award, Gender-Balance Empowerment Company Award, Social Media Innovation Award, Woman of the Year Award, Government Agency Supporting Women & Families Award and Civil Society Organisation Supporting Women & Families Award.
To expand access beyond the conference venue, VOW2026 will be broadcast live on television, radio and digital platforms, connecting audiences across Nigeria and beyond to the discussions.
Speaking ahead of the event, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, Convener of the Voice of Women Conference & Awards and Executive Director of VOWEF, said the anniversary was both a celebration of the platform’s achievements and an opportunity to define its next phase.
“VOW2026 is a celebration of ten years of voices, stories, courage and impact. For a decade, the Voice of Women platform has provided a space where women can speak, be heard and contribute meaningfully to conversations that shape our society.
“As we mark this milestone, we are not only looking back at the journey; we are looking ahead to the next decade and the kind of impact we want to create,” she said.
Aisha Sanni, Programmes Manager, VOWEF, said the anniversary edition was designed to broaden participation and bring more women and young people into national conversations.
“A decade is an important milestone, but for us, it is also a responsibility. We want the next decade to reach further to women whose voices are often missing from national conversations, and to young women and students who will become tomorrow’s leaders, decision-makers and changemakers,” she said.
Over the past decade, VOW has positioned its conference and awards as a platform for advocacy, empowerment, leadership, dialogue and recognition, providing women with opportunities to share experiences, access knowledge and influence conversations.
The next phase would focus on extending that impact from grassroots communities to national leadership and creating stronger pathways for younger women to participate in shaping society.
