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By Josfyn Uba
As a transformational speaker, and the inspiring voice behind Up You With Ezinne, Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem has consistently challenged women to rise above limitations and live with intentionality. Through her UpYou Women Conference—she has built more than just an event; she has cultivated a powerful movement dedicated to economic empowerment, healing, and holistic growth for women across Nigeria and beyond.
Following previous outings that focused on building internal bridges and triumphing through adversity, this year’s conference introduces a profound and timely shift under the theme: “Aligned.” It holds on August 28th and 29th at Muson centre. Lagos,
At a time when burnout is common and misplaced priorities can derail potential, this theme serves as a clarion call for women to realign their inner lives, master their focus, and sync their daily actions with their ultimate divine purpose.
Today, we sit down with the visionary convener herself to talk about the inspiration behind this year’s theme, what true alignment looks like in practice, and how women can navigate the delicate intersections of faith, family, business, and impact without losing themselves in the process.
Join us at Daily Sun as we step into a conversation with Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem.
You’ve often stated that the world doesn’t just need successful women; it needs whole women. In a society that heavily prioritizes titles and outward achievements, what does ‘wholeness’ actually mean to you in the context of the 2026 conference theme?
Success can be impressive, but wholeness is sustainable.
I’ve met women who have impressive titles yet privately struggle with burnout, identity, loneliness, guilt, or the feeling that they are living someone else’s life. From the outside, they look successful. Inside, they feel disconnected.
Wholeness is about living from the inside out. It is when your values, purpose, relationships, gifts and daily decisions are in harmony. It means your private and public lives are no longer competing with each other.
That is why our 2026 theme is Aligned: Positioned for Purpose and Impact. Alignment comes before acceleration. When your life is aligned, your decisions become clearer, your energy is better directed, and your impact becomes more meaningful. We are not gathering women simply to achieve more; we are helping them become more.
Having hosted previous editions how has the conversation among Nigerian women evolved? What specific gaps are you aiming to fill with this year’s focus on being ‘Aligned’?
The conversations have matured beautifully. When we started, many women were asking, “How do I succeed?” Today, more women are asking, “How do I succeed without losing myself?” That is a very different question.
Women are no longer looking only for motivation. They are looking for clarity, strategy, emotional resilience, healthy relationships, financial intelligence, leadership capacity and purpose.
Yet one gap remains. Too many women are busy but not intentional. They are productive but not necessarily positioned. This year’s conference is designed to close that gap. Alignment helps a woman stop chasing every opportunity and start embracing the right opportunities because not every open door is your door.
Your vision for this platform has been years in the making. What was that pivotal moment that convinced you that the UpYouWomen Conference had to move beyond simple empowerment to this deeper level of purpose-alignment?
Life taught me that lesson. Over the years, I have experienced seasons that stripped away titles, comfort and certainty. I have navigated business setbacks, major family health challenges, caregiving, personal health battles and the painful process of rebuilding.
Those seasons taught me something profound. Empowerment gives you confidence. Alignment gives you direction.
You can be empowered and still be running in the wrong direction.
I realized women needed more than encouragement. They needed a compass. They needed the courage to ask, “Is this truly where I should be?” That realization shaped this year’s conference.
Beyond the two-day event, what tangible indicators of impact do you look for in the lives of the women who pass through this year’s conference?
For me, success is not measured by applause inside the hall. It is measured by transformation after the lights go off. I want to see women making healthier decisions, launching businesses they have postponed, returning to school, repairing broken relationships, leading with confidence, mentoring younger women and showing up differently in their homes, workplaces and communities.
I also look for ripple effects. When a woman becomes aligned, her family benefits. Her organization benefits, her community benefits.
That is the kind of impact we measure.
You’ve introduced a special online experience for diaspora attendees this year. Why is it essential for Nigerian women abroad to stay connected to this specific home-grown movement?
It is essential for Nigerian women abroad to stay connected to this specific home-grown movement with regards to this conference because purpose has no borders.
Nigerian women across the world are making remarkable contributions in business, healthcare, education, technology and leadership. Yet many still desire authentic conversations that reflect their roots, values and lived experiences.
UpYouWomen is proudly Nigerian, but our vision has always been global.
The challenges may differ across countries, but purpose, identity, leadership and impact are universal conversations.
We want women in the diaspora to remain connected, contribute their perspectives and continue building bridges back home. We rise faster when we rise together.
Many conferences offer inspiration that fades once the event ends. How are you ensuring that the ‘Transformational Learning’ translates into actionable daily habits for women balancing career, family and personal growth?
We are very intentional about this. Information changes minds, but implementation changes lives. Every session is designed to move women from inspiration to action. We focus on practical frameworks, reflection exercises, strategic conversations and clear next steps. Beyond the conference, women become part of a community that continues the conversation through mentorship, accountability, learning opportunities and ongoing engagement.
Transformation is not an event. It is a lifestyle.
The theme emphasizes thriving under pressure. What is your advice to the woman who feels she is aligned with her purpose but is currently hitting a wall because of Nigeria’s economic realities?
First, I want her to know that difficulty does not automatically mean she has missed her purpose. Sometimes resistance is part of the journey. Nigeria is challenging right now. We cannot ignore that reality. But history consistently shows that difficult seasons also produce some of the greatest innovations. My advice is this: don’t abandon your purpose; refine your strategy. Stay flexible. Continue learning. Build meaningful relationships. Look for collaboration instead of isolation. Manage your resources wisely and refuse to let temporary circumstances define your permanent identity. Purpose is not cancelled by pressure. Sometimes pressure reveals purpose.
You’ve assembled a world-class conference this year. What criteria do you use to select voices that truly represent the spirit of this revolution?
We don’t select speakers because they are popular. We select them because they have substance. Every speaker must demonstrate three things: credibility through lived experience, practical wisdom that people can apply immediately and values that align with our vision of raising women who lead with excellence and integrity.
Our audience deserves more than celebrity. They deserve conversations that can genuinely change the trajectory of their lives.
If every woman leaves this year’s conference with only one takeaway, what do you hope that internal transformation will be?
I hope every woman leaves knowing that she does not have to become someone else to make an impact. She simply needs to become the fullest expression of who she was created to be.
Comparison ends. Clarity begins.
When a woman knows who she is, where she is going and why she matters, she stops living by default and starts living by design. That is the transformation I hope every attendee carries home.
What will be your core message for women who are “Aligned” at this year’s conference as the convener?
My message is simple. Stop waiting for perfect conditions before you answer the call on your life. The world does not need another version of someone else. It needs you—clear in your identity, confident in your purpose and courageous enough to take your place. This is your season to stop shrinking, stop second-guessing yourself and stop postponing the life you were created to live.
Get aligned because when a woman is aligned, she doesn’t just change her own story. She changes generations. And that is the revolution we are building through UpYouWomen.
