The 2025 edition of The Guardian Woman Festival will hold on Friday, March 14, with diverse participants and audience at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

A flagship event of The Guardian Nigeria, the trailblazing event celebrates the achievements of female leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals, who are revolutionising industries and creating transformative impact.

Themed, “Women Mean Business,” this year’s festival will spotlight the critical role women play in reshaping economies and societies through innovation, leadership and enterprise.

The convener and Chief Strategy Officer (Global) of The Guardian, Anita Athena Ibru, expressed enthusiasm, and the need for such an event, saying: “The Guardian Woman Festival is more than just a celebration; it’s a movement that galvanises women to take charge of their future, break boundaries and influence meaningful change across industries. To borrow the tagline of my brand, Investing In Women, we are gathering together at this live media event to press for progress.”

Attendees can look forward to an inspiring day with a keynote address by the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, which will underscore the significance of women’s contributions to national and global economies. The festival will also feature panels and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and highlight actionable strategies for progress both on business and personal levels.

The festival launches the public vote for the Seven Wonder Women Awards, in partnership with Investing In Women. These awards honour exceptional women across seven key sectors: The Business of Culture (Media & Entertainment, The Arts, Hospitality & Tourism); The Business of Financing & Investment; The Business of Technology; The Business of Wellness & Care; The Business of Academia & Learning; The Business of Public Service and The Business of Philanthropy & Social Impact.

Panel discussions will feature thought-provoking topics, including: Addressing Challenges in Business Financing, Personal Investing, and Wealth Preservation for Women; Driving Change: How Philanthropy, CSR, and Social Impact can Strengthen Communities; Leveraging Coaching and Mentorship to Propel Women to the C-Suite and Empowering Women in Arts, Entertainment, and Lifestyle: Accelerating Action for Economic and Social Impact; as well as Care as a Business and Economic Driver of Progress in Nigeria.

Some of the speakers include: the CEO, Leadway Asset Management, David Alao; Country Manager, Zoho Corporation, Nigeria, Kehinde Ogundare; Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende; Founder, Caring Africa, Blessing Oyeleye Adesiyan; Founder, GAIA Africa, Olatowun Candide-Johnson; and President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof Pius Olanrewaju. The event will be hosted by Founder, Talkademy, Joyce Daniels.

This year’s event is sponsored by Gold Sponsor Leadway, alongside Zoho Corporation, Stanbic IBTC, and Caring Africa.