The Uzemi Leadership Summit 2.0, held over the weekend in Ikorodu, Lagos, brought together
a diverse array of leaders and aspiring professionals to spotlight the vital need for support systems for women in technology.
Organised by the Uzemi Technology Empowerment Initiative (Uzemi Africa), this year’s summit munderscored the importance of mentorship, upskilling, and policies that address the unique challenges women face as they rise in the tech industry.
The founder of Uzemi Africa, Olatomiwa Williams, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Friday opened the summit with a powerful call to action, urging for greater support and infrastructure to help women grow into tech leadership roles.
“We need to ensure that women have the right support to achieve this growth,” she said.
Williams highlighted the need for mentorship programmes, inclusive work environments, and
advocacy to help bridge the gender gap in technology leadership.
The summit’s theme of empowering women was further amplified in a keynote address by
Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, CEO of Rise Network.
Her talk, “Leading with AI: Women Pioneering Tomorrow’s Technology,” centred on the
importance of upskilling, particularly in artificial intelligence.
She encouraged attendees to embrace continuous learning to remain competitive, warning, “It’s
not artificial intelligence that will take your job; it’s the person who knows AI. What are you doing
to upskill and reskill yourself?”
Key government figures also weighed in on the summit’s goals, including Hon. Tubosun Alake,
Lagos State Commissioner of Innovation, Science, and Technology, who shared a message of
resilience and adaptability.
“Consistency and patience are key to excelling in your field,” he advised, adding that women in
tech should seize every opportunity to advance.
