The Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) organization recently concluded its 2025 Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference, a high-profile event that served to reaffirm the group’s dedication to strengthening female leadership, influencing policy changes, and accelerating national development across Nigeria.
The conference, which took place at The Civic Centre in Lagos, focused on the theme “Claiming Our Future: Women in Leadership and Policy Transformation.” It successfully convened a diverse group of key stakeholders, including top government officials, corporate executives, development agencies, civil society groups, and young professionals, all of whom participated in productive discussions and engagements.
The stature of the gathering was highlighted by the presence of numerous distinguished figures. Notable attendees included Abubakar Suleiman (CEO, Sterling Bank), Edward Fagbohun (MTN Nigeria Foundation), Abosede George-Ogan (WILAN), and representatives from the Lagos State Government, the Office of the Minister of Trade & Industry, the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, and several other influential institutions like NESG, Stanbic IBTC, WARIF, PLAN International, and the Gates Foundation. This widespread participation underscored a growing national consensus that female leadership is fundamentally essential for Nigeria’s economic prosperity, political stability, and institutional advancement.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (represented by Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, SSG), expressed the state’s continued commitment to gender-responsive governance and supporting organizations like WISCAR that cultivate future female leaders. The Governor affirmed, “Lagos State recognizes women’s leadership as a strategic national asset and is dedicated to creating an inclusive economy.”
Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, OON, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and the 2025 Distinguished WISCAR Awardee, delivered the keynote address. She stressed that Nigeria’s progress relies on establishing systems that empower women to lead and innovate on a large scale. She stated that “Nigeria’s future cannot be built without women at the decision-making table,” arguing that female leadership results in stronger institutions, safer communities, and more prosperous societies.
A significant achievement at the event was the graduation of the inaugural class of the Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP), a collaborative effort with FIDA Nigeria. This initiative was designed to bridge the leadership gap for women in Nigeria’s legal and public sectors, equipping 105 mid-career legal professionals with structured mentorship and policy training. The pilot graduation aims to build a pipeline of women capable of championing gender-equitable laws within the judiciary, legislature, and executive arms of government. WISCAR plans to extend this successful model to other professional fields, such as engineering, media, and finance.
Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, highlighted that gender inclusion is both an economic and national necessity. She noted that WISCAR has been equipping women with the necessary competence, confidence, and courage for seventeen years. Citing global data, she emphasized the financial imperative: closing gender gaps could add $28 trillion to global GDP and deliver a $316 billion gain for Africa by 2030.
The conference also amplified the agenda of the Nigeria Women in Leadership Coalition (comprising WISCAR, WIMBIZ, WILAN, and the Nigeria Governors Forum). This coalition is jointly advocating for three major national policy shifts, which have received the endorsement of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment: 35% representation for women in federal and state cabinets and on listed company boards/executive management, plus the adoption of a modern labour policy providing 16 weeks of paid maternity leave and 14 days of paid paternity leave by 2027.
Finally, the event recognized excellence through two awards: the Ambassador Abdullahi & Amina Atta HeForShe Award for male allies, and the 2025 Professor Grace Alele-Williams Alumni Impact Award, which was presented to Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters. Since its establishment, WISCAR has empowered over 17,000 women and remains a key catalyst for national transformation, using conference recommendations to inform its ongoing advocacy efforts.
