Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), a leading non-profit dedicated to empowering professional women, hosted its 16th Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference at the MUSON Centre in Lagos. Themed “Fuelling Resilience: Empowering Diversity for Economic Success,” the event showcased the transformative power of mentorship in driving personal and economic progress.
Speaking at the conference, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Hon. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment. “We remain steadfast in championing initiatives that empower women and promote gender equity. Together, we can build a more inclusive and prosperous future for Lagos and Nigeria,” she stated.
Amina Oyagbola, Founder of WISCAR, articulated the organization’s enduring impact. “For 16 years, WISCAR has tirelessly elevated women into leadership roles through mentorship, career development, and advocacy. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, it’s vital to intensify efforts to close the gender equality gap,” she said, emphasizing that WISCAR has mentored over 500 women across diverse sectors.
The conference celebrated several milestones, including the unveiling of The WISCAR Mentoring Book and the presentation of the Professor Grace Alele-Williams Alumni Impact Award to Dolapo Agbede, a renowned diversity and inclusion expert. Agbede was lauded for her resilience and pioneering contributions to advancing inclusion in Africa.
Keynote speaker and 2024 Distinguished WISCAR Awardee, Funke Opeke, Founder of MainOne, shared her journey of resilience in revolutionizing Nigeria’s tech infrastructure. “The improbable is not always impossible,” she remarked, quoting Nelson Mandela. “With determination, we can overcome barriers and achieve remarkable feats.”
Notable guests included the First Lady of Kwara State, Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who unveiled The WISCAR Mentoring Book, alongside industry leaders such as Olumide Adeosun, Group Executive Director at Rainoil Limited; Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative; and Odunayo (Moritiwon) Sanya, Executive Director at MTN Foundation.
The conference concluded with a stirring call to action from Oyagbola, urging collective efforts to normalize women’s leadership. “Progress demands intentionality and collaboration,” she affirmed.
The event was supported by an extensive network of sponsors, including platinum sponsors First Bank, GTCo, and Pacific Holdings. The silver sponsors, which include Bank of Industry, FCMB, Stanbic IBTC, Coronation Merchant Bank, SNEPCo/SPDC and MTN Foundation, and a host of many more dignified sponsors like FSDH and Sterling Bank