WILAN Convenes Women Leaders Across Sectors to Drive Cross-Sector Collaboration and Advance Women’s Leadership in Nigeria

Women in Leadership Cross-Sector Convening brings together senior and emerging women leaders from law, health, finance, agriculture, government, and civil society at Fraser Suites, Abuja.

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN Global), in coalition with Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), and the Nigeria Governors Forum, on Thursday, June 4, 2026, convened the Women in Leadership Cross-Sector Convening at Fraser Suites, Abuja. The event, themed “Connecting Impact: Cross-Sector Leadership for National Growth,” brought together over 100 senior and emerging women leaders to bridge sector-based silos, build strategic relationships, and advance women’s influence in decision-making across Nigeria.

The convening marks a significant moment in WILAN Global’s work to move the conversation on women’s leadership from representation to real, systemic influence — examining what it takes for women to not just occupy seats at the table, but to shape the structures, policies, and institutional cultures that define outcomes at the national level.

The programme opened with a welcome address by Abosede George-Ogan, Founder of WILAN Global, who said, “Across Nigeria, we are facing increasingly complex challenges that no single sector can solve alone. We have encountered excellent women leaders across sectors who were working in silos. And silos, no matter how strong they are individually, do not build nations. At WILAN, we believe leadership is not simply about occupying positions. It is about creating pathways, expanding possibilities, and building institutions that outlast those who lead”. The opening address was followed by a coalition presentation and goodwill messages from key partners. The day’s conversations were anchored by four substantive sessions: a keynote address, a senior women leaders panel, a women in public sector roundtable and an emerging women leader’s panel.

The keynote address, delivered by Madam Elsie Addo Awadzi under the theme, “From Presence to Power: Why Women’s Cross-Sector Leadership Will Shape Africa’s Future,” framed the day’s discussions around the growing importance of collaborative leadership in addressing complex development challenges. Drawing on her experience across governance, finance, and public policy, Madam Awadzi highlighted the need for leaders who can work across institutional and sectoral boundaries to drive sustainable progress. She noted that, “The era of siloed leadership is ending. The leaders who will define the next generation of African development will not be those who know the most about one sector. They will be those who can connect sectors, align incentives, build coalitions, and mobilise diverse actors around shared national priorities. The future belongs to integrators and collaborators.”

Following the keynote, the Public Sector Roundtable, “Strengthening Subnational Systems for Change,” brought together senior women in public leadership, to examine the role of subnational governance in advancing inclusive development outcomes. The discussion explored opportunities for strengthening institutional coordination, improving service delivery, and expanding women’s influence within public decision-making structures.

The first panel session, “From Seats at the Table to Shaping the Table: Women Leading Systems Change Across Sectors,” featured senior women leaders from diverse sectors who reflected on their experiences driving organisational and systems-level change. Discussions focused on institutional reform, coalition building, leadership credibility, and sustaining influence within complex environments.

The second panel session, “The Next Wave: Emerging Women Leaders, Driving Influence and Impact,” convened accomplished early and mid-career women leaders from sectors including health, finance, agriculture, and the environment. Panelists shared perspectives on leadership development, navigating professional transitions, building influence, and positioning themselves for greater impact within their respective fields.

Why This Convening Matters

The Women in Leadership Cross-Sector Convening reflects WILAN Global’s broader mandate to build the infrastructure for women’s leadership advancement — not just through individual empowerment, but through the collective action of women across sectors who share a common stake in a more equitable leadership landscape and want to contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development.

By uniting established and emerging women leaders in one strategic space, the convening created conditions for the kind of relationship-building, knowledge exchange, and collaborative thinking that accelerates both individual careers and sector-wide change. Participants left with stronger networks, clearer strategies, and a renewed sense of collective purpose.

About WILAN Global

Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN) is a non-profit organisation focused on advancing women’s leadership across all levels of political, economic, and public life. At WILAN, our conviction is that women’s leadership can change everything, everywhere.

About the Women in Leadership Coalition

The Women in Leadership Coalition is a strategic alliance between four leading institutions

committed to accelerating gender equity in Nigeria’s public, private, and development sectors. Comprising WILAN, WIMBIZ, WISCAR, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the coalition represents a unified front advocating for systemic change and inclusive leadership across Nigeria.

The Coalition was formed in 2024 out of a shared recognition that despite increased advocacy, the representation of women in key leadership spaces remains alarmingly low.

Our collective strength lies in our ability to bridge civil society, government, and private sector spaces with evidence, influence, and action.

Our Mission

To drive sustainable, inclusive leadership outcomes for Nigerian women through policy

advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge dissemination, ensuring that women are equitably represented in governance, boardrooms, and decision-making spaces.

Media Contact

Confidence Chukwuemeka

Communication Officer

Women in Leadership Advancement Network

Cchukwuemeka@wilanglobal.org

June 4, 2026