The Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy in partnership with Dubai Tourism successfully hosted hundreds of African women home and abroad at the International Woman Leadership Conference which took place in Dubai, between from March 29 to 31, 2023.
The conference, a place of knowledge, empowerment and entertainment for the African woman, took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Festival City, Dubai with support from the city’s Economy and Tourism Centre.
With an impressive line-up of pan-African and global speakers, the conference explored the theme “Against All Odds” through multiple keynotes, plenary and digging deep sessions.
After goodwill messages from the wife of the vice president of Ghana, Samira Bawumia and the wife of the vice president of Nigeria, Dolapo Osinbajo; Nigerian entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author and convener of the conference, Ibukun Awosika, in her opening speech, charged attendees to take responsibility for their lives.
“The one thing you must never hand over to anyone is the remote control of your life. Have the right panel over your life and have the grace to receive criticism from this committee you have chosen,” she said.
This was soon followed by the first two keynotes delivered by the director, Vigeo Power Ltd, Funke Osibodu and the executive chairperson, Kalagadi Manganese, Daphne Mashile-Nkosi on the topics ‘Against All Odds – A Corporate Mindset’ and ‘Against All Odds – A Changemaker’s Mindset’ respectively.
Other keynote speakers at the conference include; the executive director, Ellen Johnson Presidential Centre for Women Development, Oley Dibba Wadda, who spoke on ‘Doing it Afraid’ and the vice chairman of Alibaba Group, Joe Tsai, who spoke on ‘Against All Odds…Taking Opportunities.’
The conference was punctuated at strategic junctures with digging-deep sessions facilitated by a professor at the IESE Business School, Kandarp Mehta, who spoke on Negotiations and Mediation. There were also delegates’ conversation sessions, allowing for the cross-fertilisation of ideas among delegates.
Multiple A-list speakers contributed vital insights and practical experiences during the plenary sessions. They include: Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; the CEO of Secure-ID Limited, Kofo Akinkugbe; the MD at Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Elohor Aiboni; the Regional Manager Middle East and Africa at Dubai International Chamber, Khalid Al Ali and the Regional Director, International Operations, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Stella Kalanne Fubara with special attendance by President and CEO Dubai Chambers, HE Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah.
The International Woman Leadership Conference is an initiative of Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy held annually in partnership with Dubai Tourism to provide an engaging platform for hundreds of women across Africa and the diaspora to be equipped and united in strength to change the story of the African continent.
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