Career Women Seek Increased Female Involvement In National Transformation

The Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) has called for increased women’s leadership and policy transformation in the country.

The Organisation held its 2025 Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference, with the theme, ‘Claiming Our Future: Women in Leadership and Policy Transformation’, brought together policymakers, business leaders, and emerging professionals to discuss the importance of women’s leadership in Nigeria’s development.

The event celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the Women in Law Mentoring Programme and recognised outstanding individuals and organisations for their contributions to gender equity.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening gender-responsive governance and supporting institutions like WISCAR that are shaping the next generation of female leaders.

“Lagos State remains committed to building an inclusive and competitive economy where women’s leadership is recognised as a strategic national asset. We are proud to support platforms like WISCAR that are shaping the future of governance and professional excellence,” he stated.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, and 2025 Distinguished WISCAR Awardee Professor Folasade Ogunsola reflected on the transformative power of purposeful female leadership.

She emphasised that Nigeria’s progress depends on creating enabling systems where women can lead, influence, and innovate at scale.

A key milestone of the event was the graduation of the first cohort of the Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP), a transformative initiative implemented in collaboration with FIDA Nigeria.

Developed to address the critical gaps in women’s representation and leadership within Nigeria’s legal and public sector ecosystem, the programme equipped 105 mid-career legal professionals with a robust blend of structured mentorship, leadership training, and exposure to policy and justice sector reforms.

The founder and chairperson of WISCAR, Amina Oyagbola underscored that gender inclusion is both a national and economic imperative.

“For seventeen years, WISCAR has equipped women with the competence, confidence, and courage to lead. Beyond empowerment, we must claim our future through leadership, accountability, and collective action.

“Global evidence shows that closing gender gaps in labour participation could add $28 trillion to global GDP, and Africa could gain $316 billion by 2030 by increasing women’s economic participation. Companies with gender-diverse leadership are also more profitable, more innovative, and better governed,” she said.

The conference further amplified the bold, collective agenda of the Nigeria Women in Leadership Coalition, comprising WISCAR, Women in Management and Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Women In Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN), and the Nigeria Governors Forum.

United by a shared vision for systemic transformation, the coalition is advocating for three critical national reforms: 35 per cent female representation in federal and state cabinets, 35 per cent women on boards and in executive management of listed companies, and the adoption of a modern labour policy guaranteeing at least 16 weeks paid maternity leave and 14 days of paid paternity leave by 2027.

WISCAR stated that “these reforms, which have been endorsed and embraced by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, are essential to building institutions that reflect Nigeria’s talent, diversity, and governance aspirations.”