… graduates first cohort of Women in Law Mentoring Programme

By Ebunoluwa Sessou

Women in Successful Careers, WISCAR, has reaffirmed its position as a leading force in gender inclusion and leadership development with the successful conclusion of its 2025 Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference in Lagos.

Held at The Civic Centre, the conference brought together top policymakers, business executives, development partners, civil society leaders and young professionals for robust conversations under the theme, “Claiming Our Future: Women in Leadership and Policy Transformation.”

The event drew an impressive lineup of dignitaries including Sterling Bank CEO, Abubakar Suleiman; MTN Foundation’s Edward Fagbohun; WILAN Executive Director, Abosede George-Ogan; Channels TV’s Maupe Ogun-Yusuf; NESG CEO, Dr. Tayo Aduloju; WARIF Founder, Dr. Kemi Dasilva-Ibru; PLAN International’s Charles Usie; as well as representatives of the Gates Foundation, WISCAR mentors and members of its Advisory Board.

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, reiterated the state’s commitment to gender-responsive governance. “We are proud to support platforms like WISCAR that are shaping the future of governance and professional excellence,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and 2025 Distinguished WISCAR Awardee, highlighted the indispensable role of women in national development. “Nigeria’s future cannot be built without women at the decision-making table,” she noted.

A major highlight was the graduation of the first cohort of the Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP), implemented in partnership with FIDA Nigeria. The programme trained 105 mid-career female legal professionals through mentorship, leadership development and exposure to justice sector reforms. WISCAR says WILMP will serve as a scalable model for other sectors including engineering, media and finance.

In her address, WISCAR Founder and Chairperson, Amina Oyagbola, stressed that gender inclusion is both a national and economic priority. She cited global data showing significant GDP gains for countries that expand women’s participation in the workforce.

“For seventeen years, WISCAR has equipped women with the competence, confidence and courage to lead,” she said.

The conference also strengthened the advocacy agenda of the Nigeria Women in Leadership Coalition comprising WISCAR, WIMBIZ, WILAN and the Nigeria Governors Forum which is pushing for 35 percent female representation in government cabinets, 35percent women in corporate leadership, and updated labour policies guaranteeing at least 16 weeks maternity leave and 14 days paternity leave by 2027.

Two awards were presented: the inaugural Ambassador Abdullahi & Amina Atta HeForShe Award recognising male allyship, and the Professor Grace Alele-Williams Alumni Impact Award, given to WISCAR alumna and PAWEN Founder, Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters.

With over 17,000 women empowered since inception, WISCAR says insights from the 2025 conference will drive its ongoing advocacy to ensure sustained institutional reforms and a stronger pipeline of female leaders across Nigeria.