Throughout history, the central role played by women has ensured the stability, progress and long-term development of nations. In the 21st century, the issues of gender balance and the need to accord women equal opportunities and allow them achieve their full potentials in the society, have gained more momentum, globally. While some progress has been made to overcome impediments to their chances of contributing to development, a lot still needs to be done in the area of decision-making. According to the United Nations (UN), investing in women and respecting their rights is the surest way to uplifting communities, organizations and countries, as well as achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Most importantly, the global body made its submission to the effect that ‘Balance’ is not a women’s issue, but rather a business issue. The race is on for gender-balanced boardroom, gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, gender-balanced employment opportunities, gender-balanced wealth creation, gender-balanced sports activities, amongst others.
In this special edition, we examine the roles of women in nation-building, the challenges women face in society, and the pursuit of gender equality. Excerpts…
IJEOMA NKIRUKA ONWORDI: CHAMPIONING TRANSFORMATION, INSIGHT FROM A LEADING HR VISIONARY.
Ijeoma Nkiruka Onwordi, Head Human Resources Tetracore Energy Group
With a distinguished career spanning two decades, Nkiruka has established herself as a leading force in Human Resources (HR). Her extensive experience cuts across diverse sectors, including consulting, non-profit, manufacturing, and energy. At the heart of her practice lies a deep commitment to aligning HR strategies with overarching business goals to ultimately create significant value for organizations and their stakeholders.
A driving force behind her professional journey is a profound passion for creating workplace transformations and building high-performance work cultures. She also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a global outlook in her HR practice. This vision and dedication have been instrumental in her career trajectory. Being part of the HR team is seen as pivotal, enabling her to be at the forefront of initiating and championing the very changes she envisions for workplaces.
Reflecting on her journey, she highlights that challenges have been fundamental catalysts for growth, enabling her to reach new phases and greater heights by adjusting her perspectives. Her most significant challenges arose during key career transitions: first, moving from the non-profit sector to the corporate world, and subsequently, stepping into a management role, notably as a woman.
Rather than dwelling on difficulties, she actively chose to learn and adapt during these transitions. In navigating the shift into the corporate world, she rigorously reinforced her knowledge of HR fundamentals, expanded her network, and built crucial connections with key HR leaders. The guidance received from two mentors during this period was considered immensely invaluable.
When stepping into management, the focus shifted to closing gaps in her leadership and business capabilities. This involved seeking to understand these concepts within various organizational contexts and their unique nuances. For women specifically navigating this path, she believes it is imperative to understand how to navigate the three spheres of personal, strategic, and political leadership across different business landscapes.
While her early career aspiration mirrored that of many young professionals – aiming for major global organizations – this evolved into a powerful drive to design similar work systems and build transformational workplaces in any organization she is a part of. This personal evolution underscores the powerful passion that has been a primary catalyst for her career success.
A recent testament to her and her team’s collective effort is earning the Great Place to Work 2025 Certification in her current role as Head, Human Resources at Tetracore Energy Group Ltd. This achievement significantly underscores their commitment to building great workplaces for their people and reflects the quality of the organization’s leadership. Furthermore, she is a proud member of the prestigious Forbes HR Council, providing a platform to connect with like-minded global professionals who contribute to the profession and shape HR practices.
Being recognized as one of Nigeria’s most outstanding and impactful women in leadership is deeply humbling and incredibly reaffirming. She views this recognition not just as a reflection of her individual journey but also as a celebration of the collective support received from her supportive family, dedicated teammates, invaluable mentors, professional colleagues, and the visionary leaders she has had the honor of working with. This recognition serves as a powerful signal, sending a clear message to young women pursuing a life of impact and meaningful discovery:
It is possible to rise, lead, and be the change you wish to see. Her hope is that this recognition will celebrate past achievements while also igniting further action to amplify diverse voices and actively include more girls and women in leadership, thereby empowering them to contribute significantly to driving growth and success for organizations.
Looking towards the future, she hopes to forge a legacy as someone who lived with deep purpose and intentionality through every challenge and success. She envisions being remembered by her family, children, organization, and society at large as someone who lived her values and inspired others to realize their unique potential and achieve their versions of personal and organizational success. Ultimately, she aspires to be remembered as a woman who transformed the narrative of female leadership and as an African who reshaped African identity and its leadership presence on the global stage. Her journey serves as an inspiring blueprint for purposeful leadership and transformative impact.
Kemi Abimbola Williams: Pragmatic Business Development Expert Driving Growth At Tetracore Energy Group
Kemi Abimbola Williams, Executive Director, Corporate Services at Tetracore Energy Group Ltd
Kemi Abimbola Williams is a highly skilled professional who blends creativity, strategic thinking, and effective leadership making her a renowned executive known for consistently delivering outstanding results.
With over 20 years of experience across multiple industries including corporate services, energy, and creative business Kemi has built a strong reputation for innovation and execution. As the Director of Corporate Services at Tetracore Energy Group, she oversees group operations and ensures her teams are empowered to achieve optimal performance across the entire value chain.
Kemi is also the founder and Creative Director of McApril Integrated Company, established in 2010 to provide services in branding, logistics, real estate, and interior design. McApril was born out of a strong desire to transform artistic visions into business realities.
In addition, she is the co-founder and current president of the Nextpage Life Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to educational empowerment and transformation. Her leadership approach is deeply rooted in empathy, strategy, and creativity—driving positive change wherever she goes.
Throughout her career, Kemi has faced numerous challenges, particularly in male-dominated sectors like energy and logistics. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “Starting a business in Nigeria, especially as a woman in a male-dominated industry, comes with unique challenges. In my early entrepreneurial days, I faced moments of doubt, limited access to capital, and cultural resistance to women stepping into certain roles particularly in energy and logistics.”
Despite societal opposition, Kemi never viewed these obstacles as barriers. “I saw them as opportunities to grow stronger. I had to believe firmly in my vision, remain persistent, and develop grit. To succeed, I knew I needed to prove myself by consistently exceeding expectations. Even when opportunities didn’t come right away, I stayed informed, sought mentorship, and remained determined. Rather than wait for approval, I created my own opportunities. Through faith, perseverance, and a problem-solving mindset, I turned challenges into stepping stones.”
When asked about the source of her professional inspiration, Kemi emphasized her drive to make a meaningful impact: “Driving greatness to create lasting impact is what fuels me. Every project I undertake is guided by a passion to improve lives, develop practical solutions, and build enduring value. I have a natural ability to solve problems. Seeing a need and having the courage to meet it is what inspired my entrepreneurial journey.”
Her commitment to self-growth, love for learning, and resilient mindset have been key pillars of her success. “The only way to lead effectively is to keep evolving,” she said. Whether she is leading teams, crafting client solutions, or scaling businesses, she finds joy in achieving exceptional results and inspiring others.
On being recognized by The Guardian, Kemi described the honor as “Deeply humbling and profoundly motivating. Recognition like this isn’t just personal it’s symbolic of the experiences of many women still breaking barriers. It underscores the importance of visibility. When one woman rises, she lights the path for others.”
For Kemi, this recognition is not a finish line but a renewed call to action. “It compels me to keep mentoring, pushing boundaries, and uplifting the next generation. It strengthens my commitment to lead with creativity, compassion, and integrity.”
As a leader, Kemi aims to build a legacy of excellence and empathy one that leaves a lasting imprint. “I want to set an example for my children and family, showing them that integrity, hard work, and service can coexist with success. Balancing work and family haven’t always been easy. It’s a delicate dance I’ve learned to master through intentionality and the strength of a solid support system.”
Oluwatobi Q. Shofowora: Bridging Strategic Vision With Operational Excellence
Oluwatobi Q. Shofowora, Senior Manager & Country Manager For Tetracore Energy Group Ghana Operations
A visionary Strategist with over 13 years of cross-industry expertise spanning technology, energy, finance, manufacturing, and non-profit sectors. As Senior Manager and Country Manager for Tetracore Energy Group’s Ghana operations, she spearheads regional expansion, resource optimization, and strategic alignment, driving gas-to-power initiatives and natural gas monetization projects.
Her leadership has contributed to growing a 100+MMSCFD natural gas supply portfolio and executing over 60MMSCFD of energy infrastructure projects. Renowned for bridging strategic vision with operational excellence, she excels in business and digital transformation, crisis management, and process optimization, delivering tailored solutions for industrial, power, and commercial clients. She offers advisory services to Board-Level Directors and SME leaders on market trends, as well as positioning organizations for sustainable growth in dynamic markets.
With a Second-Class Honors degree in History and International Relations from Babcock University, an MBA at Nexford University (in view). Oluwatobi commitment to social impact is reflected in her active community roles, which includes her tenure with Students in Free Enterprise (ENACTUS) and the Red Cross Community. She is passionate about advancing Africa’s energy landscape, she advocates for career excellence and innovation on multiple platforms, mentoring the next generation of energy leaders.
Oluwatobi currently leads Tetracore’s Ghana Business and oversees Tetracore’s Regional expansion efforts. She manages country-wide planning efforts, optimally allocating financial, human, and other resources through close collaboration with relevant stakeholders and is instrumental in defining, executing, and ensuring alignment with company’s strategic goals and long-term objectives.
Her strategic oversight and deep understanding of the energy sector, specifically in natural gas monetization, utilization, and commercialization, has been instrumental in shaping Tetracore’s long-term objectives, focusing on delivering competitive solutions that meet clients’ evolving needs. She is passionate about the advancement of the energy sector through natural gas infrastructure and gas-to-power initiatives, focusing on delivering competitive solutions for industrial, power, and commercial clients.
On the most significant challenges she has faced in her career and how she has overcome them, she has this to say. “Navigating diverse industries demands adaptive thinking and continuous learning to master evolving roles. As a woman in male-dominated sectors, overcoming common barriers while delivering exceptional results required resilience, grit and agility. By consistently prioritizing measurable impact. I’ve earned recognition, proving value transcends biases in every professional chapter.”
She attributed her strategy for achieving a balance personal life and managing the demands of career while maintaining a high professional level to her mentor, Mr. Olakunle Williams, founder and CEO of Tetracore Energy Group. He once advised me that: “Work-life balance isn’t practical—Work-Life integration is.” She also added by saying “I have learned to adjust my priorities as life changes, balancing work, family, and personal needs without sacrificing quality.
When asked what this recognition by the Guardian as one of Nigeria’s most outstanding and impactful women in leadership means to her, she has this to say. “The recognition came as a surprise, and it is such an Honor to be recognized as an impactful and outstanding leader on a platform like this. It is a reminder for me that people notice when and how you show up. I’ll keep doing my best, not just for myself, but to show others, especially younger women, that consistency and hard work does pays off, just keep going!”
As a leader, she hopes to leave a legacy rooted in empowering others, showing that leadership thrives on humility, adaptability, and integrity. Professionally, she wants to be remembered for advancing sustainable energy access and mentoring women to lead confidently in male-dominated fields.
Oghale-Evi Onwusah: Combining Technical Mastery And Purpose-Driven Leadership In Finance
Oghale-Evi Onwusah, Financial Controller, Tetracore Energy Group
Oghale-Evi Onwusah is currently the Financial Controller at Tetracore Energy Group. With over 18 years expertise in Finance management across Africa. A certified chartered accountant and tax professional, she excels in Finance Operations, Financial Modelling, Project and Business valuation, Project Financing, Risk Management, Financial Planning and Analysis, International Tax Operations.
Oghale’s career highlights include serving as Regional Tax Manager at IBM, where she oversaw tax compliance and reporting for multiple countries in Africa, and as an Assistant Tax Manager at PwC, where she led teams and provided tax advisory services to diverse industries.
With an MSc in Professional Accountancy from the University of London, she is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants and a member of the ACCA Women’s Network Nigeria.
In response to her recognition by the Guardian, she reflects on her remarkable career, sharing the pivotal moment, challenges and triumphs that have defined her journey as a distinguished accountant with repute.
A GLIMPS INTO HER JOURNEY
A seasoned Finance Expert with over 18 years of experience in financial management, tax operations and strategic leadership across Africa. She is currently the Financial Controller at Tetracore Energy Group, an integrated energy company active across the gas value chain—from midstream to downstream—focused on delivering Piped Natural Gas (PNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and gas-to-power solutions.
Her career spans reputable organizations such as IBM, where she served as Regional Tax Manager overseeing tax compliance and reporting for several countries in Africa, and PwC, where she held the role of Assistant Manager, providing tax compliance and advisory services to clients across various industries.
With an MSc in Professional Accountancy from the University of London, and B. Eng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Benin. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a Fellow of the National Institute of Credit Administration (FICA). She serves as a member of GAIA Africa, the Women in Energy Network (WIEN) and the ACCA Women’s Network Nigeria, advocating for the advancement of women in finance and leadership.
Responding to the most significant challenges she has faced in her career journey and how she overcame them, she said “Navigating the complexities of energy infrastructure financing from local and international financing institutions in emerging markets has been one of the most demanding challenges in my career. I overcame this challenge by leveraging on my professional network to build strong relationships with key stakeholders.”
Still speaking on challenges, she said “Another major challenge has been navigating complex local and international tax regulations, especially in cross-border transactions. The dynamic and sometimes ambiguous nature of tax laws in multiple jurisdictions demand a deep understanding of both local frameworks and international best practices. I successfully addressed this challenge by continuous self-development.”
In addition, managing financial risks in large-scale projects—including currency fluctuations, interest rate exposure, and cost overruns—has been a critical part of my role. To mitigate these risks, i implemented robust financial modelling, stress-testing scenarios, and developed comprehensive risk management frameworks aligned with the organization’s strategic goals.
Each of these experiences has strengthened my analytical skills, resilience, and ability to lead cross-functional teams under pressure, ultimately contributing to more financially sound and strategically aligned outcomes.
Speaking on what drives her professional motivation, and what passion has been the primary catalyst for her career success. The Finance Expert said her professional motivation is rooted in a deep passion for problem-solving and a commitment to driving measurable impact through finance. “I am particularly passionate about shaping financially sound and sustainable businesses that drive economic growth and development, especially within Africa’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.”
“At Tetracore Energy, this passion finds expression in the work we do to provide cleaner, more efficient energy solutions to industrial clusters and power generation projects. Seeing how our financial strategies translate into improved energy access, local content development, and national growth keeps me deeply motivated. The ability to merge technical excellence with purpose-driven leadership has been a key catalyst for my success.”
She attributed the recognition by the Guardian as an incredible honor and a humbling reminder of the responsibility that comes with visibility. “This recognition affirms not only my journey but also the value of resilience, integrity, and excellence. For me, it is also a platform—a chance to inspire and support the next generation of female leaders in finance, energy and beyond.”
She further stressed that as someone who has benefitted from mentorship and strong professional networks, she is committed to paying it forward. “It means being intentional about creating inclusive spaces and fostering opportunities for women to thrive, particularly in industries where we remain underrepresented.”
Oghale wants to be remembered as a leader who combined technical mastery with empathy, creativity, and innovation. On the kind of legacy, she wants to leave behind, she has this to say “Within my family, i want my legacy to be one of courage, purpose, and empowerment—setting an example that anything is achievable with faith, discipline, goal-oriented and a sense of mission. In my organization, I aim to leave behind a finance function that is not just operationally sound but strategically impactful—a team empowered to drive innovation and long-term value. At Tetracore Energy, we are building a legacy of transforming Africa’s energy access, and I’m proud to contribute to that vision.
For society at large, I hope my impact inspires more women to pursue careers in finance and energy, advocate for equitable policy environments and take bold steps towards Leadership.
Harriet Akano: A Leader Forged By Experience, Driving People-First Transformation And Innovation At Oilserv Group
Harriet Akano, the Group Head of HR and Corporate Services at Oilserv Group, is a leader whose career, spanning over two decades in human resource management across diverse industries and multinational environments, has been shaped by experience and resilience. She possesses a comprehensive understanding of the full HR spectrum, including talent acquisition, leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational design. Her extensive background, particularly her proven track record in leading significant change management initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and digital HR transformations, positions her uniquely to drive strategic HR initiatives and align people strategies with overall organizational growth at Oilserv Group. Her approach to leadership is marked by agility and a commitment to building trust.
Two pivotal experiences are highlighted as having profoundly shaped her leadership perspective and honed skills essential for her current role in the energy and construction sectors.
The first defining experience was leading a major organizational transformation during a merger acquisition in a previous role. Mergers and acquisitions are inherently periods of significant uncertainty and potential disruption, presenting immense challenges for HR leadership, including integrating different cultures, retaining talent, and ensuring operational continuity while navigating complex stakeholder dynamics.
This experience served as a critical lesson in the absolute necessity of empathic leadership. Understanding and addressing the human side of change – the anxieties, hopes, and concerns of employees – is paramount and is seen not just as a soft skill but a strategic imperative for maintaining morale and trust during turbulent times. Equally crucial was the reinforcement of transparent communication, which becomes the bedrock upon which trust is built in the face of uncertainty.
Keeping people informed, even with difficult news, was underscored as vital for managing expectations and fostering security and involvement. The transformation also highlighted the critical link between aligning people’s strategy with business objectives. Successful integration requires ensuring that HR initiatives, talent management, and cultural norms directly support the strategic goals of the newly formed entity, demonstrating that the people strategy must be an integral part of the overall business plan.
Perhaps the most profound takeaway was the realization that successful transformation starts with the people and not the processes. While processes and structures are necessary, it is the people – their buy-in, resilience, and adaptability – that ultimately determine the success or failure of major change. This fundamental belief now anchors her leadership philosophy, emphasizing the human element at the core of strategic initiatives.
The second pivotal experience involved leading the implementation of an HR digitization initiative across multiple business units. In today’s technology-driven world, particularly in industries like energy and construction, leveraging technology is essential for HR. This initiative deepened her understanding of how technology can streamline HR operations, freeing up professionals for strategic work, enhancing efficiency, and reducing administrative burden through task automation.
It also demonstrated technology’s power in improving data-driven decision-making. Digitization provides access to valuable HR data, enabling informed choices about talent management, workforce planning, and employee programs based on insights rather than intuition. The initiative also showed how technology can enhance employee engagement through modern HR platforms offering easier access to information, self-service, and improved communication channels, contributing to a more positive employee experience.
This experience presented a significant challenge: it required her to think more strategically, balancing the potential of innovation with the practical realities of operational execution. Implementing new systems requires careful planning, change management, and ensuring the technology serves the needs of the business and its people.
Together, these two distinct yet complementary experiences – the human-centric challenge of transformation and the strategic-technological challenge of digitization – have profoundly honed key leadership qualities. She developed the ability to lead with agility, adapting quickly to changing circumstances and navigating complexity.
Her capacity to build trust across all organizational levels was further strengthened, a skill vital for fostering collaboration and achieving shared goals. Crucially, these experiences solidified her belief in the need to position HR as a strategic enabler, not merely an administrative function, but a vital partner driving business success and contributing directly to organizational mission and growth. These qualities – agility, trust-building, and strategic HR leadership – are identified as essential in driving Oilserv’s mission within the energy and construction space.
Her professional motivation is deeply rooted in the opportunity to make meaningful impacts on people’s lives and organizational success, a purpose-driven approach fueling her work. Her passion for developing talent, fostering inclusive workplaces, and enabling growth has been a primary catalyst for her career success. She finds energy in helping others achieve their potential, aligning seamlessly with the lesson that people are the engine of growth and success.
Drawing on her experiences, particularly navigating male-dominated environments, she offers insights on the inclusion of women in leadership in Nigeria’s public and private sectors. While acknowledging progress, she stresses that significant work remains due to systemic challenges. She explains that marginalization often stems not from overt intent but from longstanding cultural and structural barriers.
These include unconscious biases, limited access to mentorship or sponsorship, and deeply ingrained societal expectations regarding gender roles. Such issues lead to fewer opportunities for women in leadership pipelines or critical decision-making roles. However, the narrative is shifting as organizations recognize the business value of diversity and inclusion in terms of innovation, stakeholder engagement, and overall performance.
At Oilserv, there is a strong commitment to building a culture supporting equity, where leadership potential is recognized and nurtured regardless of gender. While women may not always face intentional marginalization, they encounter systemic obstacles requiring proactive measures. True progress, she believes, will come from sustained advocacy, deliberate succession planning, and ensuring equal access to opportunities at all leadership levels.
Reflecting on a personal challenge, she shares being initially underestimated in executive discussions within a male-dominated setting. Her strategy involved consistently demonstrating competence, reliably delivering results, and proactively building strategic relationships across the business. This consistent performance shifted perceptions, earning her a valued seat at the table as a trusted leader, not just for her gender. This experience strengthened her resolve and solidified her commitment to mentoring other women aspiring to leadership.
She firmly believes that women play a critical, multifaceted role in Nigeria’s economic growth and development through entrepreneurship, leadership, and workforce participation. Women’s unique perspectives are vital catalysts fostering innovation, enhancing inclusivity, and driving community development.
To fully leverage these contributions and propel sustainable economic progress, she advocates for targeted investments in women’s education and leadership development and promoting policies that actively drive gender equity, ensuring equal access to opportunities, capital, and decision-making roles. Empowering women is framed not merely as a social goal but as a strategic economic imperative for sustainable progress nationwide.
As a major player, Oilserv Limited recognizes the importance of addressing women’s inclusion and has implemented a comprehensive gender inclusion policy. This policy focuses on ensuring equal recruitment opportunities, providing dedicated leadership development programs for women, and fostering a supportive work environment through mentorship and flexible work arrangements. The goal is to ensure women have equal access to career growth trajectories and opportunities to hold decision-making roles, reinforcing Oilserv’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the traditionally male-dominated oil and gas sector.
Looking ahead to 2030, she envisions true gender parity in Nigeria’s corporate and public sectors, characterized by equal representation of women in leadership, elimination of pay gaps through pay equity, and truly inclusive workplace cultures. To accelerate progress, organizations must implement transparent policies, make tangible investments in women’s leadership development, and hold leaders accountable for diversity goals. Achieving sustainable change will require strong collaborations between government, the private sector, and civil society.
Managing the demands of a high-pressure role while maintaining personal well-being and family life requires deliberate effort. Her strategy involves intentional planning, setting clear priorities, and relying on strong support systems professionally and personally. Setting boundaries is key for dedicating quality time to family while staying focused at work.
Delegation is crucial, allowing her to trust capable hands and focus her energy effectively. Dedicated time for self-care and reflection, incorporating practices like exercise, mindfulness, and yoga, helps her stay grounded and energized. While perfect balance isn’t always feasible, staying organized, maintaining open communication, and aligning daily choices with core values are essential for sustaining career success and personal fulfillment. Leveraging technology also assists in managing competing demands.
Beyond Oilserv’s internal operations, her leadership contributes to broader economic development and community empowerment, particularly in Rivers State and areas where Oilserv operates. Her focus is on driving inclusive HR practices promoting local employment and skill development. By partnering with community initiatives and supporting capacity building programs, Oilserv, under her guidance, contributes to economic empowerment and fosters sustainable development, creating lasting positive impact in surrounding communities.
As Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, her advice for women resonates strongly: embrace resilience and leadership in every facet of life. It is crucial for women to believe in their capabilities, relentlessly seek continuous growth and learning, and provide unwavering support for one another. Her message is one of collective empowerment: “Together, we can break barriers and drive positive change for ourselves and for future generations”.
In essence, Harriet Akano embodies the transformative power of experience. Her journey through complex organizational change and technological innovation has cultivated a leadership approach that is agile, trust-centric, and strategically positions HR as a vital force for growth. Driven by a passion for people and a commitment to inclusion, she continues to make significant impacts within her organization, advocating for a more equitable future for women in leadership and contributing to broader economic and community development in Nigeria. Her story illustrates how dedicated, people-focused HR leadership can be a cornerstone of both organizational success and societal progress.
Brenda Anugwom: Championing Women, A Journey Of Leadership And Advocacy
The path to leadership is often multifaceted, shaped by passion, experience, and a deep-seated commitment to service. For the current CEO of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), that journey began with a foundation in law and a clear desire to work with people. Graduating from Imo State University in 2001 and called to the Nigerian bar in 2002, it became evident early on that a career focused on service was the true calling.
Following youth service in 2003, the focus shifted immediately to the not-for-profit sector. This period marked a growing admiration for figures like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, whose career at the World Bank inspired a dream of international influence and impact. This aspiration materialized in 2009 with a position at the World Bank in Nigeria. The journey continued with a move to the World Bank’s Central African Republic office, followed by a leave of absence to pursue a Master of Laws at Loyola University Chicago. Upon completion, a return to the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC followed, preceding a return to Nigeria in 2016.
Since 2016, the dedication has been firmly rooted in Nigeria’s not-for-profit sector. This included freelance consulting, focusing extensively on women’s issues, gender equality, gender equity, and gender justice. A brief period in East Africa working with Doctors Without Borders preceded the return to Nigeria in November 2023 to assume the role of CEO of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund.
Assessing the landscape of women in leadership in Nigeria reveals a contrasting picture. In the private sector, particularly commercial banks, there’s been a remarkable wave of female CEOs in the past decade, a trend suggesting a growing recognition of women’s competence in managing situations effectively. The success of female leaders heading global financial institutions like the IMF and the European Union Central Bank serves as a powerful testament to women’s capabilities on a grand scale. This positive tide is increasingly felt within Nigerian private institutions. While a 50-50 balance hasn’t been achieved, the current pace of change in the private sector is considered quite remarkable.
In her view, she said the public sector presents a starkly different reality. The absence of a single woman governor, president, or vice president, coupled with a meager 4% representation in the National Assembly, paints a picture of significant marginalization. While the current administration has made efforts to appoint capable women, it’s still deemed insufficient, with few holding senior ministerial positions. Despite a landmark court judgment in 2022 recognizing the marginalization of women, progress towards equitable representation remains slow. Yet, hope persists for increased inclusion in the remaining tenure.
Brenda Anugwom also stated that a central belief highlighted is that women are inherently capable managers, acquiring skills through managing households without formal training, demonstrating their potential to successfully run an economy. Global examples underscore this capacity: India was pulled out of poverty by its informal sector, largely run by women. Countries led by women, such as Germany under Angela Merkel and the Scandinavian nations, have often seen significant success.
The contributions of figures like the late Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Nigeria’s own Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the first black woman to lead the WTO, further exemplify women’s impactful leadership on the global stage. These examples serve as knowledge-based advocacy, demonstrating what is possible if women are given the opportunity. Just as women helped lift India from poverty, they possess the ability to empower Nigeria’s economic growth if empowered and given the chance. Women are economy builders.
The Nigerian Women Trust Fund is dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and promoting gender equality. Since November 2023, the NWTF has significantly advanced its mission, particularly through the National Institute for Leadership and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (NILVAG) program. This initiative annually selects and trains young women aged 18-35 from every state and the FCT.
Post-training, these women are matched with local female mentors for six months. Under the current CEO, the program has increased the number of participants per batch, and past mentees are now leading their own “step down” initiatives in their communities, expanding the impact of their training. This mentorship has been successfully moved from the national level down to grassroots communities and even to empowering high school girls to run for leadership positions, cultivating confidence and leadership skills from a young age. The goal is to build a pipeline of confident young women who will be ready to run for higher office in the future.
Behind professional success often lies a strong support system. For the CEO, balancing career demands, household responsibilities, and social obligations is made possible by solid family support, including a strong mother and sisters. At the office, a superb team, predominantly composed of competent and professional women, ensures effective project implementation. This combination of strong personal and professional support structures is key to navigating the demands of the role.
The narrative shared underscores a powerful message: Nigerian women are capable, proven leaders and essential drivers of economic development. Organizations like the Nigerian Women Trust Fund are actively working to unlock this immense potential, building a future where women’s full participation in all sectors is not just an aspiration, but a reality.
