IWD 2026: Women Radio WFM91.7 Hosts TheMenConversation 7.0

To commemorate the International Women’s Day 2026, Women Radio 91.7 FM hosted TheMenConversation 7.0, bringing together male allies from different sectors to discuss practical ways men can support and empower women and girls. Themed “Give to Gain: Empowering Women, Strengthening the State,” the conversation focused on how men in leadership, governance, and business can move beyond advocacy to actively create opportunities for women.

Regional Manager for West Africa at Zoho, Kehinde Ogundare, highlighted the importance of intentional inclusion of women in the workplace. He noted that gender equality must go beyond rhetoric, urging organisations to deliberately create equal opportunities for women to grow and lead. According to him, companies that fail to empower women miss out on the valuable perspectives and leadership strengths they bring. Ogundare also shared initiatives by Zoho West Africa aimed at supporting women in technology and business. These include training programmes for women-focused communities such as SheCode and EELS4Tech, where participants were trained to use no-code platforms to build digital solutions and scale their businesses. He also mentioned the Women in Business Summit, which connects women entrepreneurs and promotes the use of technology to grow their businesses.

Also speaking during the conversation, Seun Justin Onarinde, Executive Director, Young Leaders Network, addressed the need for greater female representation in leadership and politics. He noted the low number of women in Nigeria’s National Assembly despite women making up nearly half of the country’s population. Onarinde urged men to move beyond mentorship to sponsorship, using their influence to open doors and create opportunities for women in leadership. He also highlighted harmful cultural norms as a major barrier to women’s participation, encouraging men to challenge stereotypes, support women’s public visibility, and amplify their voices in decision-making spaces.

The discussion emphasized that empowering women is a shared responsibility. Panelists called on men to actively use their influence to support women’s advancement across sectors, while Women Radio reaffirmed its commitment to promoting conversations that drive gender equality and inclusive development.