Leading Ladies Africa (LLA) has championed gender-inclusive leadership at its 5th Leadership by Inclusion Summit in Lagos, addressing challenges faced by women in leadership while providing actionable solutions for progress.
The summit, which was organised in partnership with IE University, Women In Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN), and WRTHY-an award-winning social impact agency, took place over the weekend, in Lagos.
The founder of Leading Ladies Africa, Francesca Uriri, while giving her opening remarks, emphasized the organization’s commitment to gender equity in leadership, while urging women to uplift others and take decisive action toward inclusivity.
“At Leading Ladies Africa, we use every tool available to us to champion gender equity in leadership, from the Girls in Leadership Program to the Career Advancement and Mentorship Program, and the Enterprise and Leadership Program. Through advocacy campaigns, impactful content, and events like this, we bring together policymakers, private sector leaders, and civil society to foster meaningful change,” she said.
Uriri urged women to consistently create a space for other women on equity and gender equality to drive meaningful change in society.
“As we embark on today’s conversations and panel discussions, I urge you to take away not just inspiration, but actionable steps. Let us leave here ready to change something, move something, and make space for others. Together, we can leverage our power, influence, and opportunity to create a more equitable andjust world,” she said.
Kicking off with insight and action, the Leadership by Inclusion Summit hosted four high-impact panel sessions, each designed to tackle key issues head-on. The first panel brought together thought leaders who ignited meaningful dialogue and laid a solid foundation for financial and product inclusion such as Bode Abifarin, Founder & CEO of Strata; Folasade
Femi-Lawal, Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa, Mastercard; Felicia Otolorin, Head of Financial Services Industry, West Africa, Google; and Lehlé Baldé-Cameron, an award-winning financial inclusion advocate and entrepreneur.
Bringing expertise to the forefront, the Summit welcomed prominent figures such as Folu Storms, a lawyer, broadcaster, and media executive; Tomike Adeoye, Media Executive and Co-founder of Maliaworld, Kelechi Anyikude, a dedicated male ally for women in leadership, Africa’s leading sports blogger and a PhD holder in Environmental Engineering. Their discussions centered on crafting actionable pathways to women’s economic empowerment.
Diving deeper into transformative solutions, Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head of SheVentures at First City Monument Bank Limited; Tolulope Babajide, Gender Network Manager at FSD Africa; Onyeka Koldsweat Akpaida, Founder and Chief Impact Officer; and Dewunmi Aisha Alugbin, Executive Director and Partner at Eden Venture Group, contributed their invaluable perspectives to the conversation. Exploring gender-inclusive leadership as a catalyst for change, another powerful panel featured Temi Dalley, Group Chief Human Resource Officer at Sterling Financial Holdings Co.; Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue, Managing Director for Africa at Global Citizen; Osayi Alile, CEO of ACT Foundation; and Adenike Macaulay, CEO of Wakanow. They shared dynamic insights on how leadership could drive social and economic impact.
Turning the spotlight on technology and innovation, the discussion on Digital Innovation and Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Economic Empowerment featured Onyekachi Eke, International Business Development Director at IE Business School; Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa, Meta; Lola Olukuewu, Co-founder and CO0 of Aivira Technologies; Ugochi Agoreyo, Partnerships Lead for Google Search in Sub-Saharan Africa, Google; and Adetutu Laditan, Creative Director of Woof Studios.
Head of public policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, Sade Dada, emphasised the importance of women exploring the limitless opportunities within the tech ecosystem, saying, “Beyond AI, women should explore the full spectrum of opportunities within the tech ecosystem. Equip yourself with the skills to thrive.”
She stressed the value of authenticity, urging women to remain true to themselves while embracing personal growth. “Be unapologetically yourself. Be open to development, but stay true to who you are. In any leadership role, reflect on the power that comes with it. Utilize that power to its full potential, without giving it away,” she said.
Dada’s insights serve as both inspiration and a practical roadmap for women aiming to thrive in
the tech ecosystem and beyond. Her emphasis on being prepared, staying authentic, and showing resilience underscores her belief that women have an essential role to play in shaping the future of the tech industry.
Head of Financial Services Industry, West Africa at Google, Felicia Otolorin, underscored the importance of breaking barriers to achieve meaningful financial inclusion, stating, “Financial incusion isn’t just about setting the bar high but about breaking barriers and designing solutions that truly work for women.” She highlighted the significance of localised solutions, noting that true economic empowerment begins at the grassroots level by meeting women where they are and creating approaches tailored to their realities.
Reflecting on Google’s experiences in Nigeria, Otolorin stressed the importance of understanding and addressing what matters most to the masses, leveraging these priorities as a gateway to explore untapped opportunities. To this end, Google launched initiatives like the Hustle Academy, a digital skills training program designed to equip individuals at the grassroots level with the tools they need to thrive in the digital ecosystem.
