The Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has renewed its advocacy for increased female representation in corporate and public governance, highlighting mentorship, heightened visibility, and targeted empowerment as foundational mechanisms for professional advancement.
Speaking at the organisation's silver jubilee annual gathering in Lagos, WIMBIZ Executive Head Omowunmi Akingbohungbe emphasised that the institution remains dedicated to motivating women to claim leadership roles while providing them with entrepreneurial skills.
What strategies does WIMBIZ use to support women?
To bridge the gender gap in executive suites and enterprise, WIMBIZ pairs seasoned professionals with up-and-coming trailblazers, ensuring the younger generation receives guidance to navigate career hurdles without starting from scratch.
"We're big on mentoring. We connect mentors, accomplished and experienced women with rising leaders so they can handhold them and show them the path so they're not reinventing the wheel," Akingbohungbe explained during a media session.
Why do women hesitate to take up leadership roles?
Akingbohungbe pointed out that professional visibility is crucial, urging women to showcase their competencies, build self-assurance, and actively seek out leadership portals. She observed that societal conditioning often makes female professionals overly cautious about their qualifications compared to their male counterparts.
"Most times women will think I'm not qualified and all of that, but men would apply. And we also have the potential," she noted, adding that WIMBIZ is actively working to alter this narrative by instilling the confidence required to thrive in commerce and public administration.
Marking its 25th anniversary milestone, the organisation also announced a collaboration with its official automobile partner for the event, offering special discounts and complimentary vehicle maintenance services for two years to registered members.
The landmark conference was anchored on the thematic focus, "Rooted, Rising, Ready: Born in Africa, Built for the World."