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Summary
Women leaders, advocates, and policymakers from across Nigeria gathered in Abuja for VOW2025, uniting under the theme “Nigerian Women and the Power of Collective Action.” The conference aimed to champion women’s leadership, promote political inclusion, and drive national transformation.
On October 2, 2025, women leaders, advocates, and policymakers from across Nigeria gathered in Abuja for the 9th edition of the Voice of Women Conference & Awards (VOW2025), themed “Nigerian Women and the Power of Collective Action.”
Held at the NAF Conference Centre, the conference coincided with Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, highlighting the vital role women continue to play in shaping the nation’s journey and future.
Gracefully hosted by Maupe Ogun-Yusuf and Dr. Oluwatosin Dokpesi, the day-long event celebrated women’s resilience and unity while emphasising the need for stronger collaboration to build an inclusive Nigeria.
The conference opened with a fireside chat titled “Breaking Barriers through the Power of Community.” Panelists Barrister Nielruka Onyelpoche, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, shared powerful stories of transformation driven by collective effort. The session set an inspiring tone for the day.
Following the National and Women’s Anthems, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founder of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), officially set the tone for VOW2025, urging women to take bold steps toward leadership and active participation in governance.
One of the highlights was a captivating conversation between Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Convener of VOW, and Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and former Executive Director of UN Women. Their discussion, “Leadership, Legacy, and the Power of Allies,” explored the importance of mentorship, allyship, and intergenerational collaboration.
Toun Okewale Sonaiya described VOW2025 as “a platform where women’s voices continue to shape Nigeria’s future.” She called for women to channel their individual voting power into a unified movement, saying,
“When women support women across all divides, we become the decisive power that can shape governance.”
She also championed the Reserved Seats Bill, describing it as essential to Nigeria’s democratic integrity, gender balance, and global standing.
In her remarks, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka urged men to become active allies in the gender equality movement. She emphasised that the struggle for gender equality is not for women alone but a collective responsibility.
“Africa cannot win its future without women,” she said. “We need men in politics, business, religion, and communities to stand with us not as bystanders but as partners in progress.”
The keynote session featured Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, both of whom emphasised policy reform and representation as key drivers for bridging Nigeria’s gender gap.
Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim paid tribute to Nigeria’s long legacy of women’s activism, from the Aba Women’s Protest of 1929 to the democratic era of the 1990s, reminding participants that women have always shaped the nation’s destiny.
“Nigeria’s low representation of women in governance, currently less than 6%, must change,” she said. “This is not an act of benevolence but of justice. Democracy without women is incomplete.”
She also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and announced support for Women Radio 91.7FM through the training of ten female journalists.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who served as Special Guest of Honour, praised Nigerian women for their leadership and growing contributions to national development.
 After a group photograph, the conference transitioned into its first major discussion, “Moving the Pieces: Translating the Collective Power of Grassroots Women to Leadership.” Led by Hansatu Adegbite of UN Women Nigeria, the panel explored findings from a Women Radio national survey revealing that 8 out of 10 grassroots women’s votes are influenced by men.
Panelists Funnifolia Paseda Oladoyinbo, Bilikisu Yakubu, Sherifat Taleat, Comrade Shafaatu Salihu Labbo, and Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey discussed how to strengthen women’s political agency and unify grassroots voices into meaningful leadership power.
After lunch, attention turned to the second panel, “The Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill.” Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker and sponsor of the bill, presented its vision to make Nigeria’s democracy more representative and inclusive. Panelists unpacked the bill’s potential to transform women’s participation in governance.
As the conference drew to a close, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Co-founder of the Amanda Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, delivered a rousing Call to Action on Beijing +30 and Its Implications for Nigerian Women, urging participants to turn conversations into measurable action.
From passionate speeches to bold commitments, VOW2025 reaffirmed that when Nigerian women unite, their collective action becomes a transformative force that shapes communities, influences policy, and drives the nation forward.
