Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on women across the world to embrace self-belief, resilience and collective support as critical tools for breaking barriers and advancing leadership.
Speaking as a guest at a CSW70 side event “the UN Goals Lounge” hosted by Karen Davila, tagged “Staying on the Table: Women Leading Through Change,” the minister said belief in one’s potential is the first step to success, declaring that women must remain “at the table” where decisions shaping society are made.
“I think it starts with self-belief. Because if you don’t believe in yourself, you cannot dream it. And once you can dream it, you can do it,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised persistence as a defining factor in leadership journeys, noting that political and professional progress often unfolds gradually.
“You have to also show up, because that’s the most difficult part of achieving success—showing up. Because when you show up, you go up,” she stated.
Leadership, according to the minister, must be anchored on service and the collective good rather than personal ambition.
She stressed that those entrusted with public office must remain committed to the welfare of citizens even in moments of personal fatigue or institutional pressure.
“Leadership is service. It’s not about you. It’s about the purpose, about the calling,” she said, noting that the ultimate test of leadership lies in the positive impact made on people’s lives.
Reflecting on her upbringing influences, Sulaiman-Ibrahim credited her success to the values instilled during childhood.
“The joker for me growing up was the safe and secure environment I grew up in, my dad raised us all as the same. In my home, there was no male or female. Everybody was just a child that needed love and that needed to believe in themselves,” she said.
On ethical leadership, the minister stressed that strong personal values remain the best safeguard against corruption.
“I think it’s your values. Once you get your values right, even at times when you think that you’re getting tempted, you just come back on track,” she stated.
The Minister also urged women to strengthen solidarity among themselves, warning that internal competition often weakens the broader movement for gender equality.
“Now more then ever, we need the rise of She for Shes. We need to strengthen the women’s agency.We need to rejuvenate the women’s movement,” she added.
Also speaking, Filipino-American entrepreneur, lawyer and author, Loida Nicolas Lewis urged women to seize opportunities and step into leadership spaces, even when they feel unprepared.
“If an opportunity comes, you take it. Because if you say, ‘I’m not ready,’ nobody’s ready. You learn the job as you go along,” she said.
Lewis warned that women who exclude themselves from leadership spaces risk being sidelined in decision-making processes.
“If you’re not at the table, you’re the menu,” she declared, stressing the importance of women occupying positions where policies and priorities are determined.
The host Karen Davila concluded the discussion by encouraging women to actively support and mentor one another as a practical step toward advancing gender equality and expanding opportunities for future generations.
“What are we as women doing to support other women? Are you mentoring at least one woman? If you’re a student, are you helping one woman, one girl in your class? If you are a boss in an office, in the corporate world, are you mentoring at least one woman to make sure she advances? This is the role we can play on a practical level,” she charged.