WOW Africa Summit Honours Women Leaders with Excellence Awards

The WOW Africa Women’s Summit and Excellence Leadership Awards honoured outstanding African women for their achievements in leadership, entrepreneurship, humanitarian service, public service, and community development during a ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria. Among those recognised was Nigeria's Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, for her contribution to women's empowerment and inclusive development.

At the WOW Africa Women’s Summit, women leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, development partners and professionals from all over Africa came together to reflect on topics of gender equality, inclusive leadership, women's economic participation, mentorship and sustainable development. The summit served as a platform for further collaboration and increased participation of women in leadership and decision-making.

Since 2018, the initiative was designed to bring together women from across Africa who are dedicated to humanitarian service, leadership and positive social change, and to make a lasting impact, said Ginika Tor, founder of WOW Africa.

“Our mission is to stabilize the barriers, foster collaboration between African women and ignite transformative leadership on the African continent," she stated.

“The summit is an expression of the growing demand for platforms that will empower women and give opportunities to future generations of female leaders," Ginika said. She also appealed to governments and citizens to condemn xenophobia and discrimination, and emphasized the need to live in harmony across the continent, particularly against foreign nationals in South Africa.

Key Highlights:

• WOW Africa honoured women leaders in various fields and professions
• Summit championed gender equality and inclusive leadership and economic participation
• Speakers recommended funding, mentorship and education and stronger leadership opportunities

Ginika also urged governments, private sector organisations, and development partners to go beyond the rhetoric of celebration and increase funding, education, mentorship and leadership opportunities for women.

She reiterated WOW Africa's resolve to nurture women as leaders, and inspired women to network and take up leadership positions without fear, whilst mentoring the younger generation. Women who dare to rise, to lead and to transform their communities will be the leaders of Africa's future," she said.

On mentorship, Nneoma Rochas Okorocha, Founder of the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative said, "Every step we take is shaped by voices, some voices build us, some voices destroy us, some voices propel us towards purpose, some voices prevent us from growing”.

Dame Tumini Akogun (FMMC), the Founder of NINGIM Hope Alive Foundation emphasised that inclusion was not enough. The community should go from talking about women to taking action for women through policies, platforms, capital, education, mentorship and opportunities, she said.

Women, who wish to enter into politics, were encouraged by Susan Lokpobiri, the Founder of the Reaching Every Adult and Child Foundation, to keep pushing, focus and never give up.

Women cannot play their part optimally in security operations to achieve sustainable peace, effective protection and lasting stability in Africa, says the President of the Association of Women in Law Enforcement in Africa (AWLEA), AIG Aishatu Abubakar Baju.

The summit ended with panel discussions on two important topics: "Raising Future Leaders: Empowering Young Women for Global Impact" and "The Invisible Load: The Importance of Mental Stability", bringing the focus to mentorship, skills, mental stability, access to finance and women's greater involvement in decision making as key drivers to support women's leadership in Africa.