Kwara First Lady, groups seek removal of structural barriers against women, girls

In furtherance of its push towards inclusion for women and girls in all sectors, a not-for-profit organisation, Leading Ladies Africa (LLA) recently collaborated with the First Lady of Kwara State, Dr. Olufolake Abudulrazaq and leading corporate events management company, Always On Point, to host the 2022 edition of the annual Leadership By Design Summit.

Delivering her keynote address as Special Guest of Honour at the event, Abdulrazaq said: “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in political, economic, and public life is essential to achieving gender equality, which cannot be achieved without ending the widespread discrimination, violence and economic and structural barriers that women and girls face. Achieving change in this regard requires policy and programme actions that will improve women’s access to secure livelihoods and economic resources, alleviate their extreme responsibilities, remove legal impediments to their participation in public life and raise social awareness through effective programmes of education and enlightenment.”

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Always On Point, Lola Olukuewu, said the organiation was proud to collaborate with LLA for the summit.

She noted that Always On Point, as a women-led organisation, recognises and sees the value and impact women bring to the workplace, politics, business, policy and every other sphere where they operate.

“It’s important to continue to create forums such as these to engage and have conversations that move the needle forward,” she added.

On her part, founder of LLA, Francesca Uriri, said she was happy to have the support of the First Lady and Always On Point as LLA seeks to chart a sustainable blueprint that encourages and supports the participation, growth and sustenance of women in the core sectors of business, corporate and politics.

“We will continue to push for gender equality and parity, while strengthening the business case for diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion, specifically with regards to women and girls,” she said.

The annual summit is an LLA initiative that provides a means of addressing and proffering solutions to the most urgent and pressing challenges women face in the fields of business (enterprise), workplace (career) and leadership (politics and advocacy).

The 2022 edition featured panel discussions by notable Nigerian female leaders and C-Suite executives including the Managing Director of FSDH Merchant Bank, Bukola Smith; Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Communications Officer, Interswitch Group, Cherry Eromosele; CEO, DKK Nigeria, Temitope Jemerigbe and CFO, FBN Quest, Olamide Adeosun.

Others were the Founder/CEO Oriki Group, Joycee Awosika; Founder, Glam Brand Agency, Bola Balogun; Co-founder and Executive Director of Innovation and Strategy, YBR Lagos Nnenna Onyewuchi; Ejiro Amos Tafiri; CEO, Healthtracka, Ifeoluwa Dare Johnson; Founder Rele Art Gallery, Adenrele Sonariwo; GD, Redbox Africa, Bolayinka Obebe and a host of others.

Speaking on different areas including career, leadership, building sustainable businesses and pivoting through challenging times, the speakers shared their wealth of knowledge and experience with the audience.