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  • WIMBIZ sets stage for 24th annual conference with O.W.N

    WIMBIZ sets stage for 24th annual conference with O.W.N

    The Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) organisation has revealed the theme for its upcoming 24th Annual Conference, scheduled to take place on November 6-7, 2025, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.

    The conference theme, “O.W.N – Own. Walk. Nurture,” is designed to inspire women to take ownership of their leadership journeys and empower the next generation.

    According to WIMBIZ Executive Director Omowunmi, the theme reflects the organization’s commitment to promoting leadership, resilience, and community values among women.

    The conference is expected to attract over 2,000 women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across Africa and beyond.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Ogunsola others for WIMBIZ conference

    The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at empowering women to lead with confidence and create lasting impact.

    Akingbohungbe noted that the theme “O.W.N – Own. Walk. Nurture.” reflects WIMBIZ’s commitment to inspiring women to take ownership of their journeys, walk with purpose and authenticity, and nurture the next generation of leaders.

    “It captures the essence of leadership, resilience, and community core values that continue to define the WIMBIZ movement,” she said.

    “As one of Africa’s largest gatherings of women in leadership, the WIMBIZ Annual Conference has consistently sparked important conversations and driven positive change.”

    “At WIMBIZ, we believe that women have the power to shape economies, societies, and futures. This year’s theme is a clarion call for women to embrace their power, walk their path with courage, and nurture others along the way. It is about building legacy, influence, and a lasting community.

    “Registration for the conference is now open, offering an opportunity for women to connect, learn, and grow in their leadership journeys.”

  • WIMBIZ conference holds in Nov

    WIMBIZ conference holds in Nov

    The 2024 edition of the Women in Management, Business, and Public Service “WIMBIZ” conference will hold in November.

    According to a statement from the organisers, WIMBIZ conference with the theme, “Dream. Dare. Do” will play host to women across the globe from November 7-8 in Lagos.

    Justifying the theme of the confab, the host said “Dream. Dare. Do.”, is anchored on three pillars; Dreaming, which charges women to envision a bigger, brighter future; Daring, pushing beyond limits and challenging the norm; and Doing, taking decisive steps to turn visions into reality. The theme is a charge for women to dream bigger, dare to step into new territories, and take action to create the future they want to see.

    “With a carefully curated lineup of keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions designed to equip women with the mindset, tools, and network to turn dreams into reality, WIMBIZ 2024 is set to transform lives for the best.

    Read Also: Abia govt to implement new minimum wage for civil servants in October

    “Attendees of the WIMBIZ 23rd Annual Conference will gain inspiring insights from keynote speakers and industry leaders, participate in hands-on workshops designed to sharpen their skills and strategies and connect with a powerful network of like-minded women who are ready to make a difference in their lives and careers. 

    “WIMBIZ recognises that real positive change happens when women come together to support, uplift, and empower one another, and WIMBIZ 2024 presents an opportunity to engage with bold, innovative ideas, build confidence and gain clarity for sustainable success in both personal and professional life.

    “Mark your calendars for the WIMBIZ 23rd Annual Conference and prepare to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to “Dream. Dare. Do,” the statement stressed.

  • WIMBIZ to women: Keep pushing through against all odds

    When you have a dream and a vision in your heart, just keep on going, don’t let the fact that you are a woman hold you back or the fact that the society is not supporting you, just keep on pushing”.

    These were the words of the Chairperson, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi at the 15th Annual Lecture of WIMBIZ which held in Lagos.

    The lecture which was themed “Balance for Better” was hinged on the 2019 International Women’s day theme. The topic of focus was, ‘Who Said So? Challenging the Status Quo…’

    According to Talabi, balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balanced employees, more gender-balance in wealth, sports coverage, among others.

    “Everyone has a part to play all the time, everywhere, from grassroots to activism to worldwide action; we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. Balance drives a better working world, collective action and shared responsibility for driving a gender-balanced world is key”, said Aboderin-Talabi.

    The keynote speaker, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Terra Kulture and BAP Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters delivering the lecture for the day, stated that there is never a right time to make a change and that women should not let the fear of failure hold them down. Sharing one of her mottos in life, she said, it was better to try and fail rather than not try at all. She also revealed that she refused to allow the negativity from failure get to her.

  • WIMBIZ seeks more leadership positions for women

    Nigeria is up against a momentous year on multiple fronts. On one hand, there is game-changing national elections. Economic agenda is at the heart of the nation’s efforts to overcome imbalances, implement reforms and accelerate growth. Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) is canvassing the emergence of women change agents on the political scene to promote growth, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    As Nigerians seek ways to boost  economic growth, relying on women will help a great deal.  Some countries have relied on them to boost their productivity and stimulate demand.

    Against this backdrop, a women movement is set to hold discussions on gender equality, with focus on the political and economic spheres.

    Speaking in Lagos, the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Executive Director, Mrs Hansatu Adegbite, said   women have contributed to the growth of the country. She said women entrepreneurs and professionals have done a lot to drive the gross domestic product (GDP) and create jobs.

    Mrs Adegbite said across the business terrain, the association has  achieved much in terms of providing women in leadership positions and in boardrooms.

    What more can be done to boost the potential of women? She said WIMBIZ wants opportunities for women leaders.

    With so much evidence of successful female leadership, she added that so much is at stake for political and economic prospects, if  efforts are made to close the gender gap.

    She said the organisation supports higher female labour participation and more women in parliament.

    Eventful Limited Chief  Executive Mrs Yewande Zaccheaus said  WIMBIZ aims at assisting women vying for political offices.

    She explained  that women were, arguably, the most under-tapped resource for accelerating economic growth through political participation.

    As part of this, she said the organisation is  holding a town hall meeting today at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, on how to help female politicians sell their programmes.

    The Managing Partner/CEO BrandZone, Mrs Chizor Malize,  said increased participation of women could provide the impetus for the development of the economy.

    She emphasised that gender equity has positive economic outcomes and that increasing the presence of women in politics is correlated to wider economic impact.

    She said the group believes  that more talented women should be in elected office and more need to be in the pipeline.

    To this end, she said the organisation is using the training to  broaden its networks and encourage more women to run, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do.

    She said the forum would be moderated by the Executive Director, Enough is Enough Nigeria,Yemi Ademolekun,  adding that it would feature women candidates contesting the forthcoming elections.

  • Austin Avuru at 60 : making of a statesman

    Those who know Austin Avuru (AA) would agree that he is at the turning point of his life. They can tell without voicing it, that this is AV’s coming of age; the point at which he begins to transit from being a thoroughbred technocrat to an authentic Nigerian statesman. At 60, the garb of leadership begins to sit on him like a well-cut suit.

    A home-bred technocrat who has earned global standing; effervescent all-rounder with the mental acuity of a genius, AA earned a degree in Geology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, (1980) and a postgraduate diploma, Petroleum Engineering, University of Ibadan.

    He joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC after UNN and his trajectory in the oil industry has followed the path of a meteor since then. Twelve years in NNPC, Africa’s largest oil and gas behemoth where he rose to the position of Reservoir Engineer and ten years in Allied Energy Resources, AER, peaking as Technical Manager and Exploration Manager. He honed his exploration and production acumen here.

    AA set up Platform Petroleum Limited in 2002 and was its managing director up until 2010 when he made what would be considered as his leap of destiny. He led Platform to effect a merger with Shebah Petroleum Development Company Limited, to birth the indigenous oil giant, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, SPDC.

    Imbued with deep technical and financial capacities, Seplat was active in acquiring divestment opportunities arising from the restructuring activities of some international oil corporations exiting the Nigerian environment. It also was upfront in taking advantage of the indigenization of Nigeria’s oil sector. Taking advantage of emerging opportunities, Seplat acquired major interests in some onshore oil and gas blocks which have numerous producing fields and enormous potentials for gas development.

    Deploying its up-scaled drilling capabilities, Seplat under the drive of AA grew its oil production capacity to a record level for local firms. Gas processing capacity has also been deepened to production levels never before achieved by an indigenous producer. Seplat’s exponential feat and a rich Board has led it to be perhaps the only Nigerian indigenous oil firm quoted both on the Nigeria and London stock exchanges.

    It needs be noted that the ability to plod in the swamps of the turbulent Niger Delta to extract ample quantity of the black gold may not be the key mark of greatness of AA. It’s actually team spirit and the infinite capacity to drive an indigenous conglomerate under the harness of one of the most formidable and multinational board ever to be found in Nigeria.

    The deep and diverse assemblage of eminent men and a woman is led by ABC Orjiakor, a cerebral medical doctor and multi-dimensional businessman. There is independent director Mark Malloch Brown (The Right Hon. The Lord Malloch-Brown, KCMG), former United Kingdom minister and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge where he made a first class honours.

    Another formidable independent is Mr. Basil Omiyi, former Managing director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and later Chairman. He is currently Chairman Stanbic-IBTC Holding Company.

    The inimitable Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru is a multi-disciplinary technocrat who recently chaired Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service, giving it the reboot it enjoys today. She is currently chairman of multi-billion naira worth Lagos State Security Trust Fund and also an independent director of Seplat.

    Others are Mr. Macaulay Ofurhie, former director of the Department of Petroleum Resources; Damian Dodo, SAN; Dr. Charles Okeahalam and  Mr. Michael Richard Alexander. Mr. Effiong Okon is Operations director while Roger Thomson Brown is Chief Financial Officer. A board built to last no doubt.

    AA is among the most respected player in Nigeria’s vast oil industry today. In nearly three decades, he has brought his vast experience, knowledge and even wisdom to bear on oil and gas policies, legislations and technical know-how. For instance, he was chairman of the technical sub-committee that drafted the policy paper that formed the basis for the Nigerian Content Act of 2010. He was consultant to the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources as well as a member of the Ministerial Committee on the Restructuring of the Department of Petroleum Resources.

    Zestful and widely knowledgeable, he regularly contributes informed commentaries in national newspapers; he has also authored books in his field as they affect the nation’s political economics.

    Though AA has grown in clout and substance in Nigeria and globally, those who know him will also testify that he is well rooted and well loved in his community Abbi, Ndokwa East Local Government of Area of Delta State and indeed the entire state.

    Known as Mr. Humility, through the instrumentality of his Austin Avuru Foundation, he has almost transformed Abbi into a semi-urban centre. A state of the art Catholic Hospital; a Catholic Cathedral; community-wide water supply scheme; scholarship to indigent students and various youth empowerment schemes among others, have elevated him to nigh an institution living out compassionate social responsibilities.

    A devout Catholic, AA is married to Victoria and they are blessed with children. At 60, this result-oriented technocrat, humanist and patriot has indeed come of age – statesmanship beckons.

  • FBN Holdings, WIMBIZ partner

    FBN Holdings, WIMBIZ partner

    First Bank of Nigeria Limited and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, both subsidiaries of FBN Holdings Plc have  partnered Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) in its 2017 annual conference.

    The conference comes with theme: “The Next Frontier: Women, You’re your Place”. The event is scheduled to hold on November 13 to 14, in Lagos.

    The Annual WIMBIZ Conference now in its 16th edition, continues to inspire and empower women through the delivery of insightful and empowering lectures/sessions charged to take women to the next level in their careers, professions and businesses.

    The conference is focused on increasing and supporting the success rate of female entrepreneurs and the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organisations and public service. This year’s conference will attract over 1,500 Nigerian and International delegates.

    FirstBank and FBNQuest Merchant Bank have  supported the WIMBIZ conference over several years to entrench the support for women economic empowerment, consistent with the United Nations Global Compact and the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle where FBN Holdings is well represented by FirstBank.

  • WIMBIZ wins 10,000 Euros Empower Women Award

    The Women in Management, Business and Public Service (popularly known as WIMBIZ) has been named the winner of the 2016 AXA Empower Women Contest. The group won the 10,000 Euros as the cash prize for the contest.

    The contest is one of the numerous women-focused initiatives by AXA Mansard Insurance, a leading non-bank financial service group.

    The contest was borne out of the need to empower women entrepreneurs across the AXA Emerging Markets EMEA-LATAM region, to grow and succeed in their businesses to care for and protect their families and ultimately impact the economies of their various countries.

    To celebrate the International Women’s Day, a call was made from AXA to employees within the region to nominate Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sponsored projects benefiting women in the community for the ‘Empower Women’ regional contest.

    The winning project, WIMBIZ Capacity Building Project (WIMCAP) was one of the entries submitted by AXA Mansard. WIMCAP is designed to equip women entrepreneurs in Nigeria with the skills and tools for building sustainable businesses that will create jobs and attract investment.

    Speaking at the award presentation, the Chairperson, Executive Council of WIMBIZ, Aishah Ahmad, said: “We are grateful to AXA for the recognition and funds as we strive to positively impact the Nigerian woman”.

    She added: “Over the years, a recurring challenge among women in Nigeria has been how businesses headed by women would gain access to finance, especially at startups. To solve this challenge, WIMBIZ developed WIMCAP to equip female entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge to grow their businesses in a sustainable manner.”

    According to her, WIMBIZ has over 5,000 women on its database and has impacted over 20,000 women through its various programmes.

  • WIMBIZ marks anniversary

    The Big Sister Programme, an initiative of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), kicked-off last week at nine schools in Eti-Osa and Mainland Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

    The programme, targeted at teenage girls in public schools was specially created as part of events to celebrate the 15th anniversary of WIMBIZ.

    According to Aishah Ahmad, Chairperson, Executive Council, WIMBIZ, “We initiated the Big Sister Programme as part of programmes to mark our 15th  anniversary, with a view to inspiring and empowering young women. We also want to create an avenue for women in our network to give back and mentor the younger generation.”

    The programme will empower over 1500 young girls across three states of the federation with critical life skills with a view to boosting their confidence and building their leadership capacity.

    The next phase of the Lagos edition will see 350 girls in 10 schools in the Surulere local government undergo the programme and is expected to be concluded with a closing ceremony on June 14, at Wesley Senior Girls Secondary School.

  • Firm trains working women

    Firm trains working women

    A firm, ACCA Nigeria for Women in Finance, has trained women working in the financial sector, with a view to developing their skills and capabilities in a complex financial world.

    The women were trained at a one-day seminar, which held at the Eko Hotels, Lagos.

    It was attended by senior and junior women workers in the financial sector, including the Chief Executive Officer, ACCA, Helen Brand; Chairperson, Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ), Mrs. Adeola Azeez and a banker, Aisha Ahmad.

    It was noted that although the future of finance is female, women account for only 20 per cent of the most senior posts held in the field.

    The participants agreed that there was so much work to do to enable the thousands of young women joining the profession fulfil their potentials and meet their aspirations.

    In her lecture, Brand said what the financial world needs to embrace is diversity, including gender, cultural, skills and experiences as well as ideas and business perspectives that help deliver enhanced business performance.

    She described the quota policy for women as tokenism, which leads to bitterness and makes organisations claim they are ticking all the right boxes but serve no useful purpose.

    “We want to see businesses recognising the positive reasons for diversity. Diversity is a critical component of capability. You want to employ the best people in finance and the best people simply are not defined along some set of homogenous criteria…

    “Research has suggested that companies with more women on their boards outperform rivals with a 42 per cent higher return in sales, 66 per cent higher on capital and 53 per cent return on equity,” she said.

    Brand said a research conducted by ACCA showed that although women have the necessary background and qualification to occupy top positions, they are limited by the “who you know” syndrome.

    She said diversity is important in finance because there is need to reduce cost, improve finance processing efficiency, ensure appropriate control and compliance to help drive and create value.

    “The evolving role and career paths of the Chief Finance Officers, CFO, means the skills and capabilities they need to bring are very different and much wider than pure financial experience and acumen. And they will need diverse international and cultural experience as we move to an increasingly global finance function,” Brand said.

    To ensure diversity, Brand said companies need to understand cultural differences, ensure that individuals from different backgrounds, sectors and careers are recruited to bring a mix of different skills to their team and embrace transparency and interaction.

    In her lecture, Azeez said women were responsible for their problems. She urged them to rise above pity and acquire the necessary skills that will guarantee their career fulfilment.

    Azeez also accused senior women of not wanting to assist or mentor the younger ones, just as she advised them to work as team and not rivals.

     

  • Osun partners NGO on jobs

    Osun partners NGO on jobs

    The Osun State government has done it again. Through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Rauf Aregbesola administration, in collaboration with Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), has restated its commitment to improving the lot of young women.

    Lately, a business clinic was organised at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Local Government Service Commission in Abere Osogbo, for more than 300 women between the ages of 18 and 45. They were trained on how to write and develop business plans for their business ideas.

    Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) and the Federal Ministries of Finance, Communication and Technology, Youth Development, Women Affairs and Social Development provided a platform for the youth to express their business ideas and also an avenue of financial support to see them through.

    One of the resource persons at the workshop, Mr. Ayo Ekisanya, who is a consultant to Women in Management, Business and Public Service, disclosed that the first edition of YouWin programme of the Federal Government was launched in October, 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, where he said 1,200 youths became successful in a competition. He said the lucky youths were given grants of between N1m and N10m to grow their businesses.

    According to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega, the business clinic which the Osun State is working in partnership with WIMBIZ , YouWIN and others was designed to give technical assistance to the youth from the state ahead of the zonal competition coming up in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital later this year. She said: “What we want to achieve with this clinic is empowerment of our youths. We want to prepare them far ahead of the competition at Ibadan and therefore give them an edge. This kind of programme would, no doubt, help them to be self-employed and be employers of labour. Last year, when the programme was done, very few women participated with only about 18 per cent putting in applications and this prompted Mr. President to insist that this year’s edition should be for women alone.”

    The Executive Secretary of WIMBIZ, Fati Omobolaji, disclosed that 50 candidates from each state of the federation would be picked to participate in the competition.

    Describing the process of picking the best candidates with quality business ideas and plans as faceless, she said participants would do the registration, filling of forms and submission of their business proposals on line.

    The Commandant of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, Col. Oyewole Eni-Ibukun (rtd) said 15 candidates from each of the 30 local government areas of the state and one area office of the state were picked from the Aregbesola’s Youth Employment Generation Initiative, (OYES).

    He also said that the Federal Government’s programme to support the youth would surely benefit the country.

    Three participants among the 300 invited for the programme, Rukiyat Aremu from Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area, Theresa Ogundeji from Ifelodun Local Government Area, and Abake Oyewole from Ife Central expressed their gratitude to Osun State government and WIMBIZ for the clinic which they believed would leverage them at the competition.