Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), alongside key partners including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and McKinsey & Company, has called for deliberate policy interventions to enhance women’s representation in governance, policymaking, and corporate leadership.
The declaration was made at the 2025 graduation ceremony of the WimBoard Mentoring Program, a WIMBIZ’s flagship initiative aimed at accelerating women’s leadership development.
The first in-person graduation since the programme’s inception, celebrated 198 mentees completing the sixth cohort under the theme, “Make Impact, Build Legacy.”
Speaking on behalf of CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, Dr. Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, Director of Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion, highlighted the importance of sustainable impact and legacy in leadership.
Cardoso commended WIMBIZ for expanding pathways for women in leadership and reiterated the CBN’s commitment to inclusive governance through strategic appointments and support for women-led enterprises.
He stated, “To the graduates, being honoured today, this is a pivotal moment you step into a world eager for your leadership. You have been tolerantly prepared, mentored, and grounded in leadership principles. The theme of your graduation, make an impact, build legacy, also serves as a call to action, emphasising that your actions have the power to influence the present and the future.”
He noted progress in financial inclusion, with women accounting for 77% of account holders just four percentage points behind men but stressed the need for a mindset shift to embed inclusion as a norm, not merely an objective.
He buttressed that the CBN fosters an environment where women thrive through leadership development, mentorship, diversity policies, and work-life balance, with the recent director-level appointments exemplifying our culture of meritocracy and inclusivity.
He added, “Leadership transcends titles, it is about influence, decision-making, and creating lasting systems.”
Keynote speaker, Hakeem Ogunniran, CEO of Eximia Realty, urged the graduates to embrace purpose-driven leadership. Even as he defined legacy as what you leave in people, and advised them to lead with integrity, courage, and service.
According to him, the significance of living a meaningful, purposeful, a fulfilling life, rather than just focusing on the passage of time, or the mundane things of life.
“So building legacy, I’d like to submit, is about creating something that is enduring, and that will be remembered and valued by others. I’m going to ask us a few questions this morning.
“How do you want to be remembered in the next generation? So it’s about living a meaningful life. It’s about doing something that will lift you up beyond your generation,” he said.
Ogunniran further described legacy with the example of an American missionary couple whose pension-funded schools continue to benefit Nigerian communities decades later.
Commenting, partner at McKinsey & Company, Ricky Asemota, presented findings from the firm’s inaugural Nigeria-specific Women in the Workplace report.
According to the report, despite women making up over half of the workforce, only 33% hold entry-level roles in the private sector. Women do ascend the ladder, holding 29% of managerial and board positions—exceeding Kenya’s figures.
She warned of a leaky pipeline, with many women exiting senior roles due to insufficient support.
While calling for urgent implementation of gender-supportive policies such as mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements, and measurable accountability frameworks to retain women in leadership.
Mrs. Hilda Nkoh, Chair of the 2025 WimBoard Committee, praised the graduates’ transformation, stating, “You are not the same woman who began this journey. Today, you walk with more clarity, courage, and confidence.”
WIMBIZ Board chair, Mrs. Bisi Adeyemi, encouraged the graduates to proactively share their board-ready profiles, saying, “Let the world know you are available and equipped to lead. The boardroom is waiting.”
