Women leaders, policymakers, and advocates from Nigeria and across Africa at the 2025 Voice of Women Conference & Awards (VOW), have renewed calls for gender equity and inclusive governance.
Speaking at the event held in Abuja, Convener of the Conference and Awards, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, described VOW2025 as “a platform where women’s voices continue to shape Nigeria’s future”.
She noted that the movement transcends borders and aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 on gender equality and inclusive leadership.
The Convener also stressed the urgency of deepening female political representation through collective action, particularly at the grassroots where women remain the largest and most powerful voting bloc.
“It is time we transform this individual voting strength into a unified force. When women support women across all divides, we become the decisive power that can shape governance,” she said.
Okewale-Sonaiya urged for the swift passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, describing it as vital to Nigeria’s democratic integrity and gender balance.
“…the passage of the bill is a crucial step towards promoting gender balance and inclusive governance in Nigeria,” she said.
She further noted that grassroots women, despite holding the largest voting bloc, often have their political choices shaped by men, and therefore urged stronger unity among women regardless of political, ethnic, or economic differences.
Championing Women’s Leadership
In a fireside Chat, former Deputy President of South Africa, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, called on men to serve as active allies in advancing women’s leadership, stressing that gender equality is a shared responsibility.
“Africa cannot win its future without women, and women cannot lead without the active support of men who share the vision of an inclusive society,” she said.
“We need men in politics, business, religion, and communities to stand with us — not as bystanders, but as partners in progress. Nigeria has the potential to lead Africa into a future where equity is the norm, not the exception.” she said.
Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka further urged Nigerian leaders to ensure that commitments made at conferences translate into measurable outcomes for women and girls saying; “the world is watching Nigeria, and Nigeria must not lag behind,”
She also emphasized that women must not remain divided along political, ethnic, or economic lines if they hope to shape policies that affect their lives, reminding participants that many men have been crucial allies in advancing women’s rights.
“We must remember that some of our strongest supporters are men who understand the value of women’s leadership. This is not a battle of women against men; it is about all of us working together for just and inclusive societies,” she stressed.
Highlighting the importance of education and solidarity, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka urged women to mentor, support, and stand with grassroots women.
“Gender equality thrives where other rights thrive. But women must step out to be there for their fellow women in the grassroots. Even if you don’t have solutions to their problems, show concern and be intentional,” she advised.
Highlights
Highlights of VOW2025 included high-level panel sessions on “Moving the Pieces: Translating Collective Power of Grassroots Women to Leadership” and “Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill”, where participants stressed the need for legislative and structural reforms to accelerate women’s political participation and leadership representation across all tiers of government.
The Awards segment honoured trailblazers advancing women’s empowerment and family welfare across Nigeria.
Institutional winners included Women at Risk International Foundation, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), Guinness Nigeria Plc, and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority.
Individual honours were given to Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (Lifetime Achievement), Meyiwa Vera (Social Media Innovation), and Dame Esther Uduehi, (Woman of the Year), with a posthumous award to the Late activist, Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
As Nigeria pursues the gender inclusion targets of the Renewed Hope Agenda, VOW2025 reaffirmed that women’s empowerment remains central to national development and Africa’s shared prosperity.
The conference concluded with a collective call for action to transform commitments into measurable progress, ensuring that women’s voices remain pivotal to Nigeria’s democratic and economic transformation.