The Women in Leadership Advancement Network, in coalition with Women in Management, Business and Public Service, Women in Successful Careers, and the Nigeria Governors Forum, recently convened the Women in Leadership Cross-Sector Convening in Abuja.
A statement from the partners on Wednesday stated that the event, themed “Connecting Impact: Cross-Sector Leadership for National Growth,” brought together over 100 senior and emerging women leaders to address sector fragmentation, strengthen strategic relationships, and advance women’s participation in decision-making across Nigeria.
“The convening marked a shift in focus from representation to systemic influence, examining how women can move beyond occupying leadership positions to shaping institutional structures, policies and organisational cultures that determine national outcomes,” it stated.
The programme opened with a welcome address by Abosede George-Ogan, Founder of WILAN Global, who emphasised the need for collaboration across sectors.
She said, “Across Nigeria, we are facing increasingly complex challenges that no single sector can solve alone. We have encountered excellent women leaders across sectors who were working in silos. And silos, no matter how strong they are individually, do not build nations.
“At WILAN, we believe leadership is not simply about occupying positions. It is about creating pathways, expanding possibilities, and building institutions that outlast those who lead.”
Her remarks were followed by coalition presentations and goodwill messages from partner organisations. The day featured four sessions: a keynote address, a senior women leaders panel, a public sector roundtable and an emerging women leaders panel.
The keynote address was delivered by Madam Elsie Addo Awadzi under the theme “From Presence to Power: Why Women’s Cross-Sector Leadership Will Shape Africa’s Future.” She underscored the importance of collaborative leadership in addressing complex governance and development challenges.
She said, “The era of siloed leadership is ending. The leaders who will define the next generation of African development will not be those who know the most about one sector. They will be those who can connect sectors, align incentives, build coalitions, and mobilise diverse actors around shared national priorities. The future belongs to integrators and collaborators.”
A public sector roundtable titled “Strengthening Subnational Systems for Change” examined how governance structures at state and local levels can be improved to enhance coordination, service delivery and women’s participation in decision-making.
A separate panel, “From Seats at the Table to Shaping the Table: Women Leading Systems Change Across Sectors,” featured senior women leaders discussing institutional reform, coalition building and sustaining leadership influence in complex environments.
Another session, “The Next Wave: Emerging Women Leaders, Driving Influence and Impact,” brought together early and mid-career professionals from sectors including health, finance, agriculture and the environment, focusing on leadership development, career transitions and building professional influence.
WILAN Global said the convening was designed to strengthen the infrastructure for women’s leadership advancement through collective action across sectors rather than individual empowerment alone.
By bringing together established and emerging leaders, the forum aimed to encourage relationship-building, knowledge sharing and collaborative approaches to leadership challenges. Participants were said to have left with expanded networks, clearer strategies and a stronger sense of shared purpose.
Read the full article here
