Nigerian Women Urged to Turn Voices Into Impact

Nigerian Women Urged to Turn Voices Into Impact

Nigerian women have been urged to move beyond speaking about issues that affect them. They have also been encouraged to turn their voices, ideas and experiences into real action. 

The call was made at the 10th Voice of Women Conference and Awards, held in Lagos on October 6, 2026. The event marked a decade of advocacy for women and was themed “A Decade of Voices and Impact.”

The message from the conference was simple. Having a voice is important. But a voice becomes more powerful when it leads to action and results.

Delivering the keynote address, businesswoman and philanthropist Mrs Folorunso Alakija urged women to move beyond raising concerns. 

She called on them to develop practical solutions to the problems they identify. According to her, the next decade should focus on turning women's voices into tangible change.

This means women must;

• use their knowledge and experience to influence decisions,
• use their skills to solve problems in their communities and workplaces. 

Dr Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, also encouraged women to turn their ideas into value. She highlighted entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise as important ways women can contribute to Nigeria's development.

Check out: Nigerian Women In Tech: Taking Revolutionary Leaps And Making Breakthroughs

Her message was particularly important for women who may feel they need large resources before they can begin. Women can start with what they have. 

A small business can grow. An idea can become a useful product. A personal skill can become a source of income and employment.

Women also have an important role to play in public leadership. The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Eng. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, noted that women have made progress in education, business and public service. 

However, gaps remain in economic opportunities, healthcare, education, leadership and political participation.

Closing these gaps requires more than conversation. It requires women to participate in decision-making spaces. It also requires women who have reached positions of influence to create opportunities for others.

One of the strongest messages from the conference was the need for women to support one another. Salako-Oyedele urged women to mentor and encourage others as they progress. Her message, “Lift as you rise,” captures the importance of collective progress.

The conference also addressed the pressures faced by working women. Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, criticised social expectations that place excessive domestic responsibilities on women who also work outside the home.

She argued that working women should have time to rest, develop themselves, network and pursue their goals. Their value should not be measured only by how much domestic work they perform.

This is an important part of the wider conversation about women's impact. Women need opportunities. But they also need environments that allow them to use those opportunities effectively.

The 10th Voice of Women Conference therefore moved the conversation from voice to impact. Giving women platforms to speak remains important. But the next step is to ensure that those voices influence policies, businesses, communities and institutions.

Nigeria needs women who will turn ideas into businesses. It needs women who will enter leadership and improve public institutions. It needs women who will develop solutions in healthcare, education, technology and other sectors.

Most importantly, women should not wait for perfect conditions before taking action. Change can begin with one idea, one decision or one community initiative.

As the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation enters its second decade, its message is clear: Nigerian women should not only be heard. Their voices should produce results. Their ideas should create value. Their leadership should open doors for others.

The real measure of a voice is the change it creates.

Read also: Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality: New Focus on Women’s Health