Women
By Anthony Isibor
BUSINESS leaders and policy experts have stressed that women’s leadership anchored on competence, opportunity and intentional inclusion, remains critical to driving sustainable economic growth in Nigeria and across emerging markets.
This was the focus of discussions at a panel session during the 2026 International Women’s Day, IWD, Summit organised by the American Business Council, ABC, in Lagos.
The session, themed “Driving Economic Growth Through Women’s Leadership, Competence, Commitment and Opportunity,” featured industry leaders, including Patrenia Werts Onuoha, Olaniyi Yusuf, Ebisan Akisanya and Eyono Fatayi Williams (represented), with the session moderated by Judith Atibi.
Opening the discussion, Atibi highlighted new data showing growing acceptance of female leadership in Nigeria, noting that “eight to nine out of 10 Nigerians do not have issues with women as their bosses.”
However, she pointed out a paradox: while progress has been recorded in sectors such as banking and finance, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles in governance and even in industries like fashion and beauty, traditionally perceived as female-dominated.
She also raised concerns about the underrepresentation of women as thought leaders in the media, particularly in areas such as energy, politics and economic analysis.
“We see women on the streets protesting, but not enough women sitting at the table as analysts, shaping narratives and speaking truth to power,” she said, urging women to take up more space in public discourse.
Responding, Onuoha emphasised that women’s leadership directly impacts business performance through what she described as “POWER”— an acronym for presence, ownership, visibility, endurance, and relationships.
According to her, women contribute significantly to economic growth by fostering collaboration, building networks and creating value-driven ecosystems that support businesses.
“When women come together, they don’t just connect socially, they create economic value by supporting each other’s businesses and expanding opportunities,” she said.
Onuoha added that beyond competence, women must learn to articulate their value and take advantage of mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership opportunities.
“You may be highly capable, but if you are not visible or do not raise your hand, you will be overlooked. It is not just about what you carry, but how you present it,” she said.
She further encouraged women to leverage transferable skills from personal and professional experiences, noting that leadership capabilities often extend beyond formal job roles.
From a corporate perspective, Akisanya noted that inclusion must go beyond tokenism to intentional influence, stressing that organisations must prioritise competence while creating systems that enable women to thrive.
“It is not just about access; it is about influence. Organisations must deliberately create opportunities, mentorship structures, and policies that allow women to grow and remain in the workforce,” she said.
She added that flexible work policies, mentorship programmes, and inclusive organisational cultures are essential to retaining female talent and building a strong pipeline of future leaders.
Akisanya stressed the importance of what she described as a “density of qualified women” in leadership, noting that real economic impact occurs when large numbers of competent women occupy decision-making roles.
Speaking on the energy sector, a representative of the Women in Energy Network, highlighted the persistent gender gap in leadership despite the presence of qualified women across the industry.
She explained that the organisation was established to close this gap by preparing women for leadership roles and connecting them with opportunities.
“We have more than 1,000 qualified women in the sector, yet many are not in the rooms where decisions are made. The issue is not availability, it is access and deliberate inclusion,” she said.
She identified structural barriers such as limited access to funding, lack of collateral and cultural constraints as major challenges hindering women’s advancement, while calling for more deliberate policies to support women-led businesses.
On economic impact, Yusuf underscored the proven value of women in leadership, citing examples from Nigeria’s banking and corporate sectors where female leaders have delivered strong performance outcomes.
“If Nigeria fully harnesses the potential of women, it could unlock up to $229 billion in additional economic value. Across Africa, increased female participation could boost GDP by as much as 10 per cent,” he said.
He, however, questioned why women are often called upon only during periods of crisis.
“Time and again, Nigeria turns to women in critical moments and they deliver. The question is, why are we not doing this consistently?” he asked.
The panel also addressed the need for women to intentionally position themselves for leadership by building confidence, visibility and strategic networks.
The discussion concluded with a consensus that while progress has been made, achieving meaningful economic transformation requires deliberate efforts to remove systemic barriers, expand opportunities and ensure that women are not only present but influential in leadership spaces.
A.I
March 26, 2026
Tags: 2026 International Women’s Day ABC Ebisan Akisanya IWD Judith Atibi. Olaniyi Yusuf Patrenia Werts Onuoha
