Stakeholders have advocated actionable strategies to enhance women’s representation in leadership roles in the country.

They made this advocacy at the 5th edition of Women’s Leadership Development Conference, ‘Leadership by Inclusion Summit.’ The conference organised by Leading Ladies Africa (LLA) in partnership with IE University, Women In Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN), and WRTHY gathered key figures from financial industries.
The Founder, Leading Ladies Africa, Francesca Uriri, highlighted the importance of advancing gender-inclusive leadership and how the organisation is ensuring to that.

“At Leading Ladies Africa, we use every tool available to us to champion gender equity in leadership, from the Girls in Leadership Program to the Career Advancement and Mentorship Program, and the Enterprise and Leadership Programme. Through advocacy campaigns, impactful content, and events like this, we bring together policymakers, private sector leaders, and civil society to foster meaningful change,” she said.

Uriri urged women to consistently create a space for other women on equity and gender equality to drive meaningful change in society.

“I urge you to take away not just inspiration, but actionable steps. Let us leave here ready to change something, move something, and make space for others. Together, we can leverage our power, influence, and opportunity to create a more equitable and just world,” she said.

Bringing expertise to the forefront, the Summit welcomed prominent figures such as a lawyer, broadcaster, and media executive, Folu Storms; Media Executive and Co-founder of Maliaworld, Tomike Adeoye; a dedicated male ally for women in leadership, Africa’s leading sports blogger and a PhD holder in Environmental Engineering, Kelechi Anyikude,. Their discussions centered on crafting actionable pathways to women’s economic empowerment.

Kicking off with insight and action, the Leadership by Inclusion Summit hosted four high-impact panel sessions, each designed to tackle key issues head-on. The first panel brought together thought leaders who ignited meaningful dialogue and laid a solid foundation for financial and product inclusion such as Founder & CEO of Strata, Bode Abifarin; Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa, Mastercard, Folasade Femi-Lawal; Head of Financial Services Industry, West Africa, Google, Felicia Otolorin and an award-winning financial inclusion advocate and entrepreneur, Lehlé Baldé-Cameron.

Exploring gender-inclusive leadership as a catalyst for change, Group Chief Human Resource Officer at Sterling Financial Holdings Co, Temi Dalley; Managing Director for Africa at Global Citizen, Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue; CEO of ACT Foundation, Osayi Alile; and CEO of Wakanow, Adenike Macaulay shared dynamic insights on how leadership could drive social and economic impact.

Turning the spotlight on technology and innovation, the discussion on Digital Innovation and Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Economic Empowerment featured International Business Development Director at IE Business School, Onyekachi Eke; Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa, Meta, Sade Dada; Co-founder and COO of Aivira Technologies, Lola Olukuewu; Partnerships Lead for Google Search in Sub-Saharan Africa, Google, Ugochi Agoreyo, and Creative Director of Woof Studios, Adetutu Laditan.

Dada emphasised the importance of women exploring the limitless opportunities within the tech ecosystem.
“Beyond AI, women should explore the full spectrum of opportunities within the tech ecosystem. Equip yourself with the skills to thrive,” she said.

She stressed the value of authenticity, urging women to remain true to themselves while embracing personal growth.

“Be unapologetically yourself. Be open to development, but stay true to who you are. In any leadership role, reflect on the power that comes with it. Utilize that power to its full potential, without giving it away,” she said.

Dada’s insights serve as both inspiration and a practical roadmap for women aiming to thrive in the tech ecosystem and beyond. Her emphasis on being prepared, staying authentic, and showing resilience underscores her belief that women have an essential role to play in shaping the future of the tech industry.

Head of Financial Services Industry, West Africa at Google, Felicia Otolorin, underscored the importance of breaking barriers to achieve meaningful financial inclusion, stating, “Financial inclusion isn’t just about setting the bar high but about breaking barriers and designing solutions that truly work for women.”
She highlighted the significance of localised solutions, noting that true economic empowerment begins at the grassroots level by meeting women where they are and creating approaches tailored to their realities.

Reflecting on Google’s experiences in Nigeria, Otolorin stressed the importance of understanding and addressing what matters most to the masses, leveraging these priorities as a gateway to explore untapped opportunities. To this end, Google launched initiatives like the Hustle Academy, a digital skills training program designed to equip individuals at the grassroots level with the tools they need to thrive in the digital ecosystem.

Diving deeper into transformative solutions, Group Head of SheVentures at First City Monument Bank Limited, Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo; Gender Network Manager at FSD Africa, Tolulope Babajide; Founder and Chief Impact Officer, Onyeka Koldsweat Akpaida; and Executive Director and Partner at Eden Venture Group, Dewunmi Aisha Alugbin, , contributed their invaluable perspectives to the conversation.