Held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, the event convened senior executives, industry professionals, and thought leaders to explore practical strategies for empowering women and dismantling systemic barriers in corporate spaces.

At the center of the discussions was a keynote address by Dr. (Mrs.) Ajoritsedere Awosika, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic and former Chairman of Access Bank PLC.

In her keynote address, Dr. Awosika challenged women to actively pursue leadership roles while emphasizing the importance of continuous self-development.

“Success is not handed out—it is earned,” she remarked, stressing that women must position themselves for opportunities and remain adaptable in the face of technological changes.

She further highlighted the need for organizations to move beyond tokenism and adopt structural changes that enable women to lead effectively.

A Corporate Commitment to Gender Inclusion

SIFAX Group’s leadership used the event to underscore its ongoing efforts to promote gender equity across its subsidiaries.

In her remarks, Mrs. Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Group Coordinating Director, pointed to the growing number of women holding key leadership positions within the organization as evidence of SIFAX Group’s inclusive culture.

“At SIFAX Group, we don’t just talk about gender inclusion—we prioritize it. The subsidiaries that are thriving are often led by women, and we are committed to ensuring that every qualified woman has the opportunity to lead,” she said.

The company’s chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, reinforced this message in a goodwill address, stating that SIFAX Group views gender inclusivity as a business imperative, not a symbolic gesture.

“We recognize that women bring immense value to leadership and decision-making. At SIFAX Group, we are committed to ensuring that talent, not gender, determines success”, he said.

Beyond corporate statements, the event featured an in-depth panel discussion with senior female leaders from SIFAX Group, focusing on the realities women face in male-dominated sectors and the structural support needed to foster their growth.

The panel highlighted mentorship, continuous learning, and deliberate policy shifts as key drivers of gender equity.

The IWD 2025 event aligns with SIFAX Group’s broader strategy to advance gender inclusion through leadership development programs, mentorship initiatives, and deliberate talent promotion across its subsidiaries.

As the event wrapped up, the message was clear: women must not only demand a seat at the table but also be ready to lead when they get there.

With a renewed sense of purpose, attendees left inspired to challenge stereotypes, develop leadership skills, and break barriers in their respective fields.

Despite the strides made in the formal sector, the respect and value afforded to Nigerian women often fail to extend beyond the confines of the workplace.

Many women continue to face systemic discrimination and unfair treatment in the family unit, the informal sector, and on the streets of Nigeria.

It raises the question: are we championing Nigerian women’s rights because it aligns with global standards, or do we genuinely believe in their intrinsic worth and value?

It’s disheartening when women are lauded in professional settings but encounter disrespect and bias elsewhere, perpetuating a cycle of inequality.

In Lagos, for instance, the existence of restaurants that bar unaccompanied women from entering underscores the stark contradiction between progress in the workplace and persistent societal biases.

Are Nigerian women truly seen as deserving of respect, or are they merely riding the wave of global trends?

To effect real change, we must delve deeper into our cultural values and societal norms, particularly regarding the perception and treatment of women.

Meaningful progress requires grassroots initiatives, legal protections, and social reforms that address gender disparities at their core.

It’s time for Nigeria to move beyond token gestures of inclusivity and enact tangible measures to empower women in all aspects of life. Only then can we truly celebrate International Women’s Day with authenticity and purpose.

Steps to Solve the Problem:

Education and Awareness: Promote gender equality education from grassroots levels to raise awareness of women’s rights and challenge harmful stereotypes.

Legal Reforms:

Enact and enforce laws that protect women’s rights and prohibit discrimination in all spheres of life.

Economic Empowerment:

Provide opportunities for women’s economic participation, including access to education, training, and entrepreneurship support.

Social Inclusion:

Foster a culture of inclusivity and respect for women in both public and private spaces, challenging discriminatory practices.

Leadership and Representation:

Encourage women’s leadership and representation in decision-making roles across sectors, promoting diverse perspectives and experiences.

Cultural Shift:

Promote a cultural shift that values and respects women’s contributions to society, challenging traditional gender roles and stereotypes.

Media Representation:

Ensure that the media portrays women in a positive and empowering light, promoting gender equality and challenging stereotypes.

Corporate Responsibility:

Encourage businesses to adopt gender-inclusive policies and practices, promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Support Networks:

Establish support networks for women, providing them with access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

It’s time for Nigeria to move beyond superficial gestures and take concrete action to empower women. Only then can we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) with sincerity and purpose.

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Tofunmi Akinseye, CEO and Publisher of Savvy Media Africa, is a highly accomplished professional in the media and communications field.

Inuwa made this statement at the stakeholder press briefing organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs in commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day in Abuja with the theme ‘DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”

Represented by Mrs. Iklima Musa Salihu, his Special Assistant on Strategy and Innovation, Inuwa stated that in 2021, the UN estimated that Nigeria’s female population was 104 million; as Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has much to gain by facilitating the inclusion of women in technology industries and bridging the digital divide.

He said that NITDA has over the years been implementing several strategic programmes and initiatives which have seen an investment of 4.4B USD in the last four years.

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) which NITDA is primarily implementing has the objective of bridging the digital gender gap by ensuring that the digital skills training programmes incorporate children, women, internally displaced persons, and the physically challenged.

“In fulfilment of this strategy, we have taken many steps to drive our nation’s prosperity by boosting digital innovation for women, creating an enabling environment that maximizes the potential of all Nigerian women, promoting their ability to contribute to the economy, and ensuring their improved quality of life and well-being,” he mentioned

He highlighted some of the key initiatives designed to support technology innovation including the Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation Support Scheme (TIES); Idea Hatch (iHatch); Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria and MIT-REAP Abuja, which has translated into establishment of vibrant innovation ecosystem and creation of 33,500 direct and indirect jobs in 2020.

He said, “In a bid to support digital literacy in women, we have conducted capacity-building programmes on ICT and entrepreneurship for 360 women in the various geopolitical zones.”

Inuwa stated that implementation of the Digital Literacy initiative increases women’s awareness, knowledge, and use of business tools that can help promote their entrepreneurial and career pursuits, increase distance learning and distance work programmes and opportunities, as well as financial inclusion.

He said, “this year, the United Nation (UN) wishes to recognise the women and girls in our lives who are championing the advancement of digital transformation and education.”

“We recognise that different challenges arise in the form of social, economic, and cultural barriers, which are hindrances that forestall this inclusion.

“That is why we have worked to create barrier-circumventing opportunities that will transform lives and create a positive domino effect that cascades greater values into our societies,” Inuwa added.