Women leaders and advocates have emphasised the power of collaboration, visibility and selfless giving as critical tools for leadership, influence and long-term opportunities particularly for women in the media and public life.
They made the submissions during a panel session, moderated by the editor of Women’s News Today, Ene Oshaba titled “Give to Gain: Collaboration, Visibility & Leadership”, as part of an International Women’s Day event convened by the Women in Media Development Initiative in Abuja.
Founder of SheForum Africa, Inimfon Etuk, stressed that meaningful opportunities often grow out of consistent investments in people and communities.
“The goodwill that comes from being a giver is what translates to open opportunities that actually leverage on the skills that we own as individuals,” she said.
Etuk urged women to deliberately invest their time, talents and resources in ways that strengthen both personal growth and collective development.
“We must continue to give the best of ourselves, give the best of our talents, give the best of our resources, give the best of our time, not only to others but to ourselves,” she stated.
Drawing from her organisation’s experience, she noted that collaboration had been the driving force behind its sustainability.
“Instead of telling somebody, ‘I’m trying to raise funds to convene a session,’ you say, ‘let’s collaborate to host this session.’ The language is different. The contribution is different. That’s how we have powered the community for over 13 years,” she said.
Broadcast journalist and media executive Senami Ohiomokhare said giving often creates influence that strengthens collaboration and leadership.
“The hand that gives is always the one that is up. The one receiving is always the one that is under. For me, that represents power,” she said.
Ohiomokhare added that collaboration allows individuals to combine strengths in ways that create outcomes none could achieve alone.
“They came to me thinking I had everything they needed, but little did they know I also needed the things they had. That is the power in collaboration. It’s never one-sided,” she said.
Ohiomokhare noted that collaboration had helped expand her work beyond the media sector, citing a bilingual debate project for children supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria in the offing.
“This idea is being sponsored by the French Embassy in Nigeria. It’s bilingual, English and French. Three years ago, I would not have thought of taking on a project such as that,” she shared.
Governance and gender equity advocate Austine Aigbe emphasised that genuine giving must be driven by sincerity rather than expectations of reward.
“If you truly give, you will gain. If you expect something in return, then you have not given,” he said.
Aigbe also urged women seeking greater visibility to remain prepared and confident when opportunities arise.
“The pain is not being ready. Most people are afraid of making mistakes, then they stay behind and complain about visibility,” he said.
Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja, Chioma Onyenucheya Uko, described collaboration as supporting others with available resources for the common good.
“Collaboration is caring enough about what concerns others to weigh in with your resources, your capacity and your abilities to achieve something that tends towards the common good,” she said.
She added that sustained acts of service naturally build influence and leadership.
“As you give, you gain improved capacity, and that improved capacity prepares you for other opportunities that will come,” Uko stated.
The speakers encouraged women, particularly those in the media, to cultivate expertise, support one another, and to continue amplifying the voices and agency of African women and girls through purposeful engagement and leadership.