All is set for the Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering professional women, to host its 2024 Leadership and Mentoring Conference, scheduled for Thursday, December 12, in Lagos.
The event, themed “Fueling Resilience: Empowering Diversity for Economic Success,” will be held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, Amina Oyagbola, the founder and chairperson of WISCAR, highlighted the conference’s significance, emphasising that it is aimed at driving empowerment, gender equality, and economic inclusion for women.
According to Oyagbola, true innovation, sustainable development, and national prosperity can only be achieved when women are included at all levels of leadership in both the private and public sectors.
Oyagbola noted that women make up half of Nigeria’s population, and excluding them from leadership roles will limit the country’s overall progress. “So, our conference, which is the 16th edition, will help sharpen women’s skills and provide them the opportunity to network and collaborate where possible,” she added.
Oyagbola also disclosed that Funke Opeke, the immediate past CEO of MainOne, will deliver the keynote speech and receive the Distinguished WISCAR Award in recognition of her “pioneering contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation and her efforts to bridge the connectivity gap across Africa.”
Ekemini Akpakpan, the executive secretary of WISCAR, provided further insights into the conference, stating that it will showcase high-profile keynote and goodwill speakers “whose insights and experiences will inspire leadership, innovation, and meaningful contributions to national progress.”
Speakers will include Dr Fatima Akilu (Executive Director of the Neem Foundation), Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Senator representing Kogi Central), and Oreoluwa Lesi (Founder of WTEC).
“We will also have two serving ministers—Hannatu Musa Musawa (Minister of Art, Culture, and Tourism) and Abubakar Bagudu (Minister of Budget and Economic Planning)—as well as Ms Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS,” Akpakpan added.
Through this annual conference, WISCAR reinforces the importance of including women in core areas of the economy and political governance as catalysts for innovation and sustainable national development.
Additionally, there will be interactive sessions and networking opportunities to empower attendees with practical strategies, insights for advancing their careers and making meaningful contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.
Sharing her experience as a mentee, Ojerime Ikpikpini said, “I reached a point in my career where I realised the importance of connecting with and learning from other women.”
“Through previous conferences, I gained critical thinking and effective communication skills, which have been transformative and significantly shaped my personal and professional growth,” she added.
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