Global Leaders Attend International Women Leadership Conference

• More than 400 Africa and global C-suite representatives are gathering at the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy's inaugural
• The conference is taking place at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, Dubai, UAE
• The conference aims at making an influence and empowering women across the globe

The initial session of the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy's International Women Leadership Conference (IWLC) has brought together more than 400 C-suite executives from Africa and around the world at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, United Arab Emirates.

The conference is focused on women's empowerment and global impact and is a signature project of the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy, in partnership with Dubai Tourism and Dubai Events, on the theme: "Women in Leadership…Playing to Win."

On March 30, Leymah Gbowee, a Nobel Peace Laureate and women's rights advocate from Liberia, and Sola David-Borah, former CEO for Africa Regions for Standard Bank Group, addressed participants of the conference.

The conference was formally opened with a goodwill message by Dolapo Osinbajo, Vice President Dolapo's wife, who stated, "What you choose today shall be the reality of your tomorrow."

The keynote speakers challenged the conference participants to be legacies as Sola and Leymah instilling inspiration from past leaders with the gut to develop our own leadership devices that challenge biases, raised above our difficulties create new opportunities.

The kickoff plenary consisted of presentations on matters like "Playing to Win – Social Change Mindset", "Playing to Win – Corporate Mindset", "Value-Based Leadership – Your Defense", and "Building Tribes". Speakers were Wendy Luhabe, South African writer and social entrepreneur; Yewande Sadiku, ex-Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)

Dr. Omobola Johnson, ex-Minister of Communication Technology and Honorary Chairperson of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet; and Emi Ibisiki, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser at Heritage Bank.

The conference was also attended by representatives of government and diplomacy, such as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria, who spoke to delegates via a live video link, as well as women ambassadors in a plenary about networking, such as Nimi Akinkuge of the Hellenic Republic -- ambassador of Nigeria to Greece, Beryl Rose Sisulu of South Africa (ambassador of South Africa to Greece), and Luela Hajdaraga of Albania (ambassador of Albania to Greece).

The conference was a three-day event that included a Networking cocktail reception on March 29, 2022; it runs until March 31, 2022.