The 10th Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW 2026) has called for greater participation of women in leadership and decision-making, urging women to move beyond having their voices heard to taking their rightful place in spaces where policies are shaped and decisions that affect society are made.
The call formed a central message of the anniversary edition, held in Lagos under the theme, “A Decade of Voices and Impact,” as speakers challenged women to convert advocacy, influence and visibility into meaningful leadership and lasting change.
For VOW Convener, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, the platform has evolved considerably, moving from conversations around economic empowerment, agriculture and technology to broader issues including gender-based violence, governance and women’s participation in leadership.
She stressed that women’s voices must translate into results, arguing that women should not only be heard but must remain at the table where decisions are made.
In her keynote address, Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil, Folorunso Alakija, urged women to move from identifying problems to becoming part of the solution.
Reflecting on her own career journey, she emphasised the importance of preparation, capacity building and taking action when opportunities emerge. According to her, women must move beyond simply occupying positions of influence to using that influence to create meaningful change in the lives of others.
Alakija also challenged women to think about their legacy beyond personal success, asking them to consider who they are taking along with them, what opportunities they are creating for others and what they will leave behind.
She pointed to initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs and highlighted the need to equip women not merely with financial assistance but with skills, confidence, networks and resources capable of helping them build sustainable enterprises.
Looking towards the next decade, Alakija called for more women to build businesses, lead institutions, shape technology and media, participate meaningfully in governance and education, and develop solutions to social problems.
For veteran broadcaster Bimbo Oloyede, the 10th anniversary was an opportunity to reflect on the qualities required to sustain the platform into its next chapter. Using the letters in “Voice of Women,” she identified vision, opportunity, internationalisation, credibility, objectivity, fortitude, wisdom, optimism, mindset and endurance as principles that could guide VOW’s next decade.
She also encouraged the platform to expand beyond Nigeria and take its conversations to women across the continent, while continuing to build credibility through consistency.
Meanwhile, women’s wellbeing and the need to rethink traditional expectations placed on women featured prominently in the remarks of Erelu Bisi Fayemi, board member of Women Radio 91.7FM.
Fayemi challenged the culture that expects women to continually give their time and energy to work and family without adequate space for rest, recovery and personal wellbeing. She argued that women cannot continue to be expected to carry multiple responsibilities without recognising the importance of support, partnership and time for themselves.
Her intervention reinforced the broader question of what meaningful empowerment should look like for women. Beyond entrepreneurship and leadership positions, the conversation must also address the social structures and expectations that determine how women experience work, family and public life.
The event also featured series of panel sessions examining innovation, leadership, political participation and the conversion of advocacy into power.
The panel, “The Future by Design,” brought together Dr Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder, Rise Networks and Rise Interactive Studios; Kiki Okewale, Chief Executive Officer, Fabric Printing Global; Dr Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, Medical Director and Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Pinnacle Medical Services; Azuka Ogunjiuba, Chief Executive Officer, Media Room Hub; and Blessing Nannan, Chief Executive Officer, Lingzhi Africa.
The panel examined how women across different sectors are driving innovation and contributing to a more inclusive, human-centred future. Their discussion underscored the growing role of women not simply as participants in emerging industries but as architects of solutions, businesses and systems shaping the future.
Another key conversation, “From Voice to Power,” brought together Bose Ironsi, Executive Director, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP); Bose Aggrey, Executive Director, Web of Hearts Foundation; Rukayat Yusuf Muhammed, Executive Director, Young Urban Women Movement; and Dr Felicia Onibon, Founder, 100 Women Lobby Group.
The discussion focused on the critical transition from speaking about women’s rights to converting those rights and voices into genuine power, leadership and lasting change.
That conversation was particularly significant against the backdrop of Nigeria’s continuing struggle with women’s representation in political leadership.
The “Woman Agenda” panel therefore turned attention to the 2027 political landscape, focusing on female candidates and the place of women in Nigeria’s political future. The session featured Hon Adijat Adeleye, Ogun State House of Assembly candidate, and Barrister Jennifer Agbaji, Kaduna State senatorial candidate, and was moderated by Fabia Ogunmekan, Founder of Adaba Initiative.
The political discussion reinforced the conference’s broader call for women to move beyond visibility and advocacy into positions where they can directly influence policy, governance and decision-making.
A major highlight of the 10th edition was the presentation of awards to individuals recognised for their contributions to advancing women’s voices, empowerment, health and development.
Among those recognised were Dr Stella Okoli, Founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries; Dr Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry; Hon Kafilat Ogbara, Member of the House of Representatives representing Kosofe Federal Constituency; Ayodele Zubair, Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; and Funmilola Paseda Oladoyinbo, Chief Executive Officer of Asha Microfinance Bank.
The recognition of individuals across healthcare, finance, politics, public service and enterprise reflected the conference’s broader understanding of impact one that extends beyond a single sector and recognises women’s advancement as a collective responsibility requiring contributions from institutions, businesses, policymakers and individuals.
For Sonaiya, however, the real measure of VOW’s first decade lies not simply in the number of conferences held or conversations generated, but in what happens after women leave the room.
She called on participants to leverage their resources, connections and influence to create opportunities and support others, stressing that the next decade must build on the platform already created.
