The Guardian Nigeria Unveils Month-Long Women’s Festival in Partnership with Federal Palace Hotel.

Emmanuel Olonade

The Executive Director of Federal Palace Hotel and Chief Strategy Officer, Global, of The Guardian, Anita Athena Ibru, has announced a strategic collaboration between both institutions to host a month-long International Women’s Month programme, culminating in the Guardian Woman Festival in Lagos.

Speaking at a press conference held at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Ibru said the initiative, themed “Give to Gain,” is designed to drive sustained impact, structured networking, and measurable outcomes for women across sectors.

According to her, the partnership goes beyond a symbolic one-day celebration and instead offers a structured platform running throughout March. She explained that the goal is to create consistent opportunities for women to connect, exchange value, and build meaningful collaborations.

Ibru stressed that women’s advancement cannot be limited to annual events, noting the importance of continuous engagement, mentorship, leadership development, and knowledge sharing. She added that investing in women strengthens families, organisations, and the broader economy.

Describing the theme “Give to Gain” as a principle rooted in reciprocity, she said the strategy encourages women to intentionally exchange ideas, opportunities, contacts, and mentorship to accelerate progress. She noted that collaboration, rather than isolation, leads to faster and more sustainable growth.

Highlighting the venue’s significance, Ibru described Federal Palace Hotel as one of Nigeria’s most historic hospitality landmarks and a national space for conversations that shape the country’s future. She added that the hotel is positioning itself as a living platform for leadership, culture, and community impact, while also contributing to Nigeria’s global image through hospitality and cultural excellence.

As part of the month-long programme, organisations, professional associations, women-led networks, NGOs, and brands with corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives have been invited to host workshops, sessions, and community engagements. Ibru emphasised that the initiative aims to ensure women not only attend events but also lead conversations and derive measurable returns from participation.

The flagship Guardian Woman Festival is scheduled for March 27 and is expected to convene women from business, finance, hospitality, media, technology, public service, the creative industries, and the social impact sector. The gathering will focus on actionable networking, learning, and collaboration, enabling participants to leave with tangible relationships and opportunities.

Addressing CSR and philanthropy, Ibru urged organisations to adopt more structured approaches to investing in women’s leadership, skills development, wellbeing, and enterprise support. She noted that such investments are critical to building human capital and strengthening Nigeria’s economic future.

She also reaffirmed her commitment to sustaining and expanding the legacy established by her father through relevance, cultural engagement, and community-focused impact, calling on stakeholders and corporate organisations to actively participate in the initiative.

Meanwhile, the Country Head of Zoho Corporation Nigeria, Kehinde Ogundare, said the company’s renewed partnership with The Guardian followed the measurable impact recorded at the previous edition.

He described the festival as a platform that amplifies women’s voices nationally, connects entrepreneurs to opportunities, and drives practical action. Ogundare noted that Zoho supports women-led businesses with accessible digital tools that help formalise operations, improve financial discipline, and scale sustainably, adding that empowerment must be practical and scalable.

The organisers expressed confidence that the month-long programme and the March 27 festival will create a lasting platform for collaboration, value exchange, and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria.