The Guardian Nigeria, in strategic partnership with Federal Palace Resort, has called for participation for the month-long celebration of International Women’s Month 2027 under the theme “Women as Wealth Creators”.

This forward-looking programme kicks off on 1 March 2027 and runs through Women’s Month in Lagos, culminating in the flagship Guardian Woman Festival. The initiative echoes the global IWD theme “Balance the Scales”, a call for equity that “promises that every woman and girl should be safe, heard, and free to shape their own lives”.

The Guardian Woman Festival convener and Executive Director of Federal Palace Resort Anita Athena Ibru, highlights that Nigerian women are now drivers and engines of wealth creation, enterprise growth and economic transformation in all sectors:

“When we invest in women through knowledge, networks, opportunity, contacts and mentorship, we strengthen families, organisations, and the economy”.

The 2027 festival invites organisations and stakeholders to align their events with Women’s Month at the historic Federal Palace Hotel. Opened for Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960, Federal Palace was the setting where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The hotel later hosted major cultural gatherings – including the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) underlining its legacy as a venue that incubates national development and cultural wealth.
As Ibru notes, Federal Palace is “a living property, not just a building where events happen”, positioning it as a platform for leadership and culture. The venue is available for bookings between 2-30 March 2027
with opening and closing ceremonies on 1 and 31 March.
This structure ensures a sustained, measurable impact rather than a single-day event.

Festival Focus: Women as Wealth Creators
The 2027 Guardian Woman Festival highlights women’s roles as creators of prosperity across all walks of life. In keeping with this focus, the festival’s sessions, panels and workshops will explore how women entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators generate economic value in diverse fields.

Ibru emphasises that gender equality yields broad returns: “Equality is not about advantage for some; it’s about dignity, safety and fairness for all. When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive, and society becomes safer.”

Organisations are encouraged to host conferences, trainings or CSR events at Federal Palace at discounted rates during March, ensuring women are not just attendees but drivers of the dialogue and outcomes.

50th Anniversary of FESTAC ’77
The 2027 festival will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of FESTAC ’77, Nigeria’s landmark Pan-African cultural celebration. The original FESTAC (Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture) was a month-long global gathering in Lagos featuring 16,000 artists and performers from 56 African and diaspora nations. It celebrated African music, fine art, literature, dance and heritage on the world stage.

By including FESTAC’s legacy, The Guardian Woman Festival honours the creative economy and cultural entrepreneurship that have long underpinned African wealth and identity.

These connections remind us that women’s influence in the arts, culture and creative industries is a vital component of national prosperity.

Key highlights and logistics include:
Dates & Venue: Women’s Month events run 2–30 March 2027 at Federal Palace Resort, Victoria Island (opening ceremony 1 March; closing ceremony 31 March).

Themes: Aligning with IWD’s “Balance the Scales”, the festival’s overarching theme “Women as Wealth Creators” spotlights women’s economic contributions.

Participation: Business leaders, government agencies, NGOs and women’s networks are invited to convene sessions that showcase women’s impact on enterprise growth and innovation.

Legacy: The month-long format builds on its past success in 2026 when the festival expanded into a full-month programme in partnership with Federal Palace (“Give to Gain” theme), providing a structured platform for sustained engagement.

For more information on the Guardian Woman Festival 2027, including event details and sponsorship, please email: [email protected]