VOW2026: Women urged to turn voices into value and impact

Nigerian women have been urged to move beyond having a voice to using their voices to create value, influence decisions and drive meaningful change in society.

The call was made at the 10th Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2026), held on Tuesday in Lagos to commemorate a decade of advocacy, conversations and amplification of women’s voices.

The conference, organised by the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation and Women Radio WFM 91.7, was themed “A Decade of Voices and Impact”.

Delivering the keynote address, businesswoman and philanthropist Mrs Folorunso Alakija urged women to move beyond raising concerns and begin to translate their voices into practical solutions and lasting impact.

Alakija said the past 10 years had demonstrated what could happen when women were given platforms to speak, adding that the next decade should focus on what women could achieve by turning their voices into transformation.

She urged women to ensure that their voices count, their competence delivers results, their visibility has purpose and their influence drives action.

Also speaking at the conference, Dr Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, challenged women to convert their voices and ideas into value through entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise.

Okoli encouraged women to start from where they were and build steadily, stressing that women could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic development by creating businesses, industries and solutions.

Meanwhile, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, congratulated Women Radio and VOWEF for sustaining a platform that has brought issues affecting women to public attention over the past decade.

She noted that while women had made progress in education, enterprise and public service, gaps remained in economic opportunities, healthcare, education, leadership and participation in governance.

Salako-Oyedele urged women to support and mentor one another, stressing the importance of creating opportunities for others as they advance. “Lift as you rise,” she said.

She also called on participants to translate conversations from the conference into practical action through stronger networks, partnerships and renewed commitment.

Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, challenged societal expectations that place disproportionate domestic responsibilities on working women.

Fayemi criticised what she described as the expectation of the “one-hour woman”, where working women are expected to use their lunch breaks to rush home to prepare meals for their husbands before returning to work.

She said women should be able to use their breaks to rest, network, engage mentors, connect with family or pursue personal development without being made to feel that their worth is tied to domestic responsibilities.

“Women have suffered enough. Girls are going through too much already. Women, we should stop investing in our own oppression,” she said.

She also called for boys to be raised to become responsible partners who understand mutual respect and shared responsibilities.

The conference featured discussions on women’s leadership, political participation, enterprise, representation and the need to create more opportunities for women across different sectors.

The event also received support from corporate partners, including FirstBank, Asha Microfinance Bank, LIRS, Government of Ekiti State, United Nigeria Airline, Air Peace, Amandla, whose involvement reinforced the importance of private-sector partnerships in advancing conversations and initiatives focused on women and families.

A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of awards to individuals recognised for their contributions to advancing women’s voices, empowerment and health.

Among those recognised were Dr Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries; Dr Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry; Hon Kafilat Ogbara, Member of the House of Representatives representing Kosofe Federal Constituency; and Mr Ayodele Zubair, Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS); Barrister Olumide Omosebi among others.

For the Executive Director of the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation and Chair, Board of Directors, Women Radio WFM 91.7, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, the 10th anniversary represents not just a celebration of the journey but a call to deepen the impact of the platform.

As VOW begins its second decade, the focus is shifting from simply giving women a voice to ensuring that those voices translate into value, influence, action and measurable impact.