Nigerian women have been urged to move beyond having a voice to using it to create value, influence decisions and drive meaningful change in society.
The call was made at the 10th Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2026), held on Tuesday in Lagos to commemorate a decade of advocacy and conversations on issues affecting women.
The conference, organised by the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation and Women Radio WFM 91.7, was themed: “A Decade of Voices and Impact.”
Delivering the keynote address, businesswoman and philanthropist, Mrs Folorunso Alakija, urged women to move beyond raising concerns and translate their voices into practical solutions and lasting impact.
Alakija said the past 10 years had demonstrated what could be achieved when women were given platforms to speak, adding that the next decade should focus on turning those voices into tangible transformation.
She urged women to ensure that their voices counted, their competence delivered results, their visibility had purpose and their influence drove action.
Also speaking at the conference, the Founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr Stella Okoli, challenged women to convert their voices and ideas into value through entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise.
Okoli encouraged women to start from where they were and build steadily, stressing that they could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic development by creating businesses, industries and solutions.
The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Eng. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, congratulated Women Radio and the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation for sustaining a platform that had brought issues affecting women to public attention over the past decade.
She noted that although women had made progress in education, enterprise and public service, gaps remained in economic opportunities, healthcare, education, leadership and participation in governance.
Salako-Oyedele urged women to support and mentor one another, stressing the importance of creating opportunities for others as they advanced.
“Lift as you rise,” she said.
She also called on participants to translate the conversations from the conference into practical action through stronger networks, partnerships and renewed commitment.
Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, challenged societal expectations that place disproportionate domestic responsibilities on working women.
Fayemi criticised what she described as the expectation of the “one-hour woman”, whereby working women are expected to use their lunch breaks to rush home to prepare meals for their husbands before returning to work.
She said women should be able to use their breaks to rest, network, engage mentors, connect with family or pursue personal development without being made to feel that their worth was tied to domestic responsibilities.
“Women have suffered enough. Girls are going through too much already. Women, we should stop investing in our own oppression,” she said.
She also called for boys to be raised to become responsible partners who understand mutual respect and shared responsibilities.
The conference featured discussions on women’s leadership, political participation, enterprise, representation and the need to create more opportunities for women across different sectors.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to individuals recognised for their contributions to women’s empowerment, health and development.
Among those recognised were Dr Stella Okoli, Founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries; Dr Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry; Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Member of the House of Representatives representing Kosofe Federal Constituency; Mr Ayodele Zubair, Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; and Barrister Olumide Omosebi, among others.
For the Executive Director of the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation and Chair of the Board of Directors of Women Radio WFM 91.7, Mrs Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, the 10th anniversary represented not only a celebration of the platform’s journey but also a call to deepen its impact.
She said as VOW entered its second decade, the focus was shifting from simply giving women a voice to ensuring that those voices translated into value, influence, action and measurable impact.
