Women entrepreneurs and business leaders have been urged to move beyond visibility and small-scale enterprise development to building sustainable businesses, creating wealth, and taking their place in Africa’s growing economic landscape.
The call dominated discussions at the 25th Annual Conference of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), held on November 5 and 6, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
Themed “Rooted, Rising, Ready: Born in Africa, Built for the World,” the two-day conference brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, corporate executives and professionals to examine opportunities for women in leadership, investment, innovation and global business.
The gathering also provided an opportunity to reflect on WIMBIZ’s 25-year journey of promoting women’s advancement in management, business and public service, while addressing the persistent barriers limiting their economic participation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, Ebisan Akisanya, stressed the importance of collaboration among women, challenging the perception that women are incapable of supporting one another.
“The nation is very important. We counter the fallacy that women cannot work together,” she said.
Conference Chairperson, Bennedikter Molokwu, reflected on the organisation’s founding vision, describing WIMBIZ as a community whose strength lies in its roots, relationships and shared commitment to women’s advancement.
According to her, leadership should not be measured solely by personal accomplishments but also by the opportunities individuals create for others.
“A woman who knows her roots cannot be blown away by any storm,” she said.
One of the major conversations at the conference centred on Africa’s economic potential and the importance of building businesses capable of competing globally.
In a fireside chat moderated by Chief Executive Officer of EnergyInc Advisors, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, challenged entrepreneurs to embrace ambitious business ideas and position themselves to benefit from Africa’s expanding opportunities.
“The world needs what Africa has; our responsibility is to ensure that as we meet the need, Africa captures most of the value,” he said.
Dangote also encouraged participants to think beyond small-scale ambitions, stressing that bold decisions and long-term vision are essential to building successful enterprises.
“If you’re not bold and you’re thinking small, you will never ever grow,” he added.
In a goodwill message, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, reinforced the importance of women’s contributions to Africa’s development, declaring that while the world needs Africa’s resources, the continent equally needs what women are building.
The question of why Africa has yet to produce more globally competitive female-led enterprises was examined during a plenary session titled “Where Is Africa’s Female-Led Unicorn, and Why Haven’t We Built It?”
Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, Tokunboh Ishmael, observed that Africa does not lack successful women entrepreneurs but requires stronger systems to support their growth.
The discussion, which also featured Group Chief Executive Officer of Cray, Olalekan Olude, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OmniRetail, Deepankar Rustagi, highlighted the importance of financing, collaboration, business structures and understanding the fundamentals of scaling enterprises.
Access to capital also featured prominently during the conference’s Capital Room, where finance and investment professionals examined how women-led businesses could become investment-ready.
Participants explored the importance of business governance, financial preparedness and strategic positioning in attracting investment and expanding operations.
Similarly, a debate titled “Fund It or Mentor It” examined whether access to finance or mentorship was more critical to the growth of women-owned businesses.
While Team Fund It emerged victorious, discussions acknowledged that funding, mentorship, strong business structures and professional networks all contribute to enterprise sustainability.
Beyond finance, the conference explored emerging opportunities for women in technology, artificial intelligence, the green economy and creative entrepreneurship.
During a session on artificial intelligence, Founder of Agile Metamor46, Bunmi Adekeye, encouraged women to embrace technological change and develop the skills required to remain competitive in the evolving workplace.
She warned that professionals who fail to understand and adopt emerging technologies risk falling behind those who use them to improve productivity and performance.
Other conversations focused on opportunities within Africa’s green economy, including sustainable businesses, innovation and access to investment.
Panellists, including Affiong Williams and Oluyemisi Iranloye, encouraged entrepreneurs to identify problems worth solving, begin with manageable business models and continuously refine their approaches.
The creative economy also received attention, with discussions examining how investment, industry partnerships and intellectual property development could unlock the potential of Africa’s cultural and creative industries.
On the second day, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, emphasised the importance of translating Africa’s natural resources, youthful population and entrepreneurial talent into sustainable economic prosperity.
He called for increased investment in African businesses, stronger manufacturing capacity, improved electricity supply and an enabling environment where women entrepreneurs could access the capital necessary to expand.
Elumelu also stressed that African talent should not be limited by geography, urging leaders to create systems that support enterprise growth and retain greater economic value within the continent.
The conference equally addressed the relationship between women’s professional success, financial independence and personal well-being.
In a session titled “Building Beyond Yourself: The Woman, Her Power, Wealth and Legacy,” Principal and Lead Coach at Iconic Womanhood, Ekene Ajene Onu, encouraged women to pursue financial success without neglecting their health, purpose and personal fulfilment.
Other discussions examined financial discipline, investment, career growth, leadership responsibilities and the challenges women face while balancing professional demands with family and caregiving obligations.
The gathering also recognised women who have made significant contributions across different sectors through its Female Achievers Awards.
Among the honourees were Founder of House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye, recognised in the beauty category; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sweet Sensation, Kehinde Kamson, honoured in the quick-service restaurant category; and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MEDPlus Pharmacy, Joke Bakare, recognised in retail pharmacy.
The awards highlighted the contributions of women entrepreneurs who have built businesses and created opportunities within their respective industries.
Executive Director of WIMBIZ, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, reiterated the importance of women’s participation in decision-making and encouraged participants to remain deliberate about their personal and professional development.
As WIMBIZ celebrates its silver jubilee, the conference reinforced the need to move conversations about women’s empowerment beyond representation towards measurable economic participation, business ownership, access to finance and leadership influence.
With a network of over 4,000 women and programmes reported to have reached more than 367,000 women, the organisation continues to advocate greater female representation across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
The central message from the gathering was that Africa’s economic transformation cannot be achieved without creating the structures, opportunities and investment pathways needed for women to build businesses, lead institutions and create lasting wealth.
