Female leaders champion gender-inclusive leadership, financial inclusion in workplace

Nigerian female CEOs, leaders, and financial experts have called for gender-inclusive leadership at workplaces, emphasising the importance of equal representation and opportunities for all genders in leadership roles.

This was revealed during the 5th edition of the Women’s Leadership Development Conference, ‘Leadership by Inclusion Summit,’ organised by Leading Ladies Africa, a women-focused organisation in Nigeria.

The Summit held recently in partnership with IE University, Women In Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN), and WRTHY addressed the leadership challenges women face while offering actionable solutions and clear roadmaps for progress.

Francesca Uriri, founder of Leading Ladies Africa, highlighted the importance of advancing gender-inclusive leadership and how the organisation is ensuring that.

“At Leading Ladies Africa, we use every tool available to us to champion gender equity in leadership, from the Girls in Leadership Program to the Career Advancement and Mentorship Program, and the Enterprise and Leadership Program. Through advocacy campaigns, impactful content, and events like this, we bring together policymakers, private sector leaders, and civil society to foster meaningful change,” she said.

Uriri urged women to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion to create workplaces where everyone can thrive and contribute to organisational success.

Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager and area business head of Mastercard Foundation emphasised the power of literacy for women, sharing her personal reflections on financial exclusion and the strength women exhibit in leveraging emotional intelligence to support one another.

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“Literacy is power. When a woman can read and write, they can rewrite the future. For me, that is what I have seen. Don’t just stop at doing your 9-to-5, you can do more,” She said.

Femi-Lawal highlighted the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to creating impactful change beyond financial aid as collaboration was a recurring theme in her speech.

Felicia Otolorin, head of the Financial Services Industry at Google West Africa, underscored the importance of breaking barriers to achieve meaningful financial inclusion, stating, “Financial inclusion isn’t just about setting the bar high but about breaking barriers and designing solutions that truly work for women.

She highlighted the significance of localised solutions, noting that true economic empowerment begins at the grassroots level by meeting women where they are and creating approaches tailored to their realities.

Reflecting on Google’s experiences in Nigeria, Otolorin stressed the importance of understanding and addressing what matters most to the masses, leveraging these priorities as a gateway to explore untapped opportunities.

Sade Dada, head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, emphasised the importance of women exploring the limitless opportunities within the tech ecosystem, saying, “Beyond AI, women should explore the full spectrum of opportunities within the tech ecosystem. Equip yourself with the skills to thrive.”

She stressed the value of authenticity, urging women to remain true to themselves while embracing personal growth.

“Be unapologetically yourself. Be open to development, but stay true to who you are. In any leadership role, reflect on the power that comes with it. Utilise that power to its full potential, without giving it away,” Dada said.