By Ebunoluwa Sessou

As Nigeria continues to grapple with low female representation in governance, the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has renewed its call for inclusive leadership, insisting that the nation cannot afford to leave women out of politics and public decision-making.

The call came during the 24th WIMBIZ Annual Conference, held in Lagos with the theme “Own it, Walk it and Nurture the Future, OWN.” The two-day event brought together women leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and professionals from across sectors to deliberate on strategies for building a more equitable society.

In a keynote speech, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Amina Augie, urged women to rise above self-doubt and societal limitations.

“Each of us faces challenges that bring out our uniqueness,” she said. “If you can recognize that your role is to show the path for others, then you understand that leadership is not about status but about lifting others.”

She shared personal stories from her years on the bench, illustrating how mentorship, encouragement, and courage can spark transformation in others.

“We are not all called to save the world,” she continued. “But whatever you are called to do, do it with light. A kind word, a smile, or recognition can change someone’s life. That is what it means to nurture the future.”

“Walk with power and purpose,” she told the gathering. “Your journey, your scars, your triumphs, they all prepare you to lift someone else. When you light another woman’s candle, your own light doesn’t dim; it shines brighter.”

She however praised WIMBIZ for its continued investment in gender equity research, leadership and board readiness programs, and its unwavering advocacy for inclusive governance.

“One of WIMBIZ’s greatest achievements is its collective voice that has shaped national conversations around women’s participation in nation-building,” she said.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Executive Director of WIMBIZ, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, disclosed that findings carried out by McKinsey study across Nigeria, Kenya, and India, revealed that women everywhere face similar challenges of representation and recognition.

“Despite our differences, the yearning is universal — we all want to fulfil our potential, to contribute to strategic decision-making in both the private and public sectors,” she said.

“This is why WIMBIZ exists to inspire and empower women to attain leadership positions and to make our world a better place.”

Akingbohungbe stressed that leaving women out of governance is not only a question of fairness but a setback to national progress. She argued that a balanced leadership structure one that includes women’s voices is essential for growth, stability and innovation.

“We can no longer afford to have women left behind. Our voices, our perspectives and our leadership are needed now more than ever,” she said.

Reflecting on WIMBIZ’s 24-year journey, Akingbohungbe celebrated the organisation’s founders and trustees, noting that every initiative is guided by four key pillars including to Inspire, Empower, Connect, and Advocate.

“Through these, the organisation has expanded globally, hosting international conferences in London and officially registering WIMBIZ UK this year.

“The Big Sister Programme reached over 1,500 secondary school girls across Uyo, Lagos, and Abuja, connecting them with mentors who provided guidance on confidence building, entrepreneurship, career planning, financial literacy, and personal hygiene.

“These young girls are the future, and it is our duty to nurture them,” Akingbohungbe noted.
She also highlighted the success of the WIMBIZ Mentoring Programme and the Women on Boards (WIMBOARD) initiative, which have shaped mentees through one-on-one mentorship and leadership development.

“We couldn’t have achieved this without our mentors. We need even more women leaders to join us, so we can multiply our influence,” she said.

Akingbohungbe revealed that this year, WIMBIZ placed a special focus on Women in Law, given that out of 900 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), only 42 are women.

“We paid courtesy visits to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, conducted gender audits of top law firms, and hosted stakeholder dialogues to uncover barriers and chart new pathways to leadership in law,” she said.

The Women in Law Mentoring Program recorded over 2,000 mentees, with more than 60 percent of participants confirming improved clarity on their career and leadership goals.

In pursuit of political inclusion, WIMBIZ also hosted webinars on the Reserved Seats Bill, a legislative proposal aimed at ensuring fair representation of women in the National Assembly.

Participants were encouraged to identify their local representatives and lobby them to support the bill, which Akingbohungbe described as “a necessary step toward equitable governance.”

This year’s theme of Collaboration further led to the birth of the Women in Leadership Coalition, comprising WIMBIZ, WILAN, WISCAR, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The coalition is advocating for three major reforms: including Modern Labour Reforms, Maternity and Paternity Leave, and Increased Female Representation in the Public Sector.

“When we join forces, our voices are amplified and our impact accelerated,” Akingbohungbe said. “We are sisters. We collaborate. We support each other to achieve our goals.”