For the second year, Etisalat Nigeria has supported the Life House in the Woman Rising initiative aimed at celebrating the arts and creative works of outstanding women globally.
The telecommunications company has demonstrated commitment to the growth and empowerment of women in the country and beyond, by continuing its sponsorship of Woman Rising.
Speaking at the event, Head, Sponsorship and Events at Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani, said the company’s continued sponsorship of the initiative was to celebrate and promote creativity and innovation by women in the country.
“We believe that women empowerment is integral to the development of any nation because they (women) play a key role in preserving the nation’s cultural heritage, either through music, literary works or fashion. Etisalat is therefore proud to support this initiative that celebrates the arts through the creative works of remarkable women globally,” she said.
The organisers of the initiative took the celebration a notch higher this year by holding the programme in three locations – The Wheatbaker Hotel and The Metropolitan Club, both in Lagos on Saturday, March 21, as well as Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos on Sunday, March 22.
This year’s celebration started with breakfast for select female personalities, including leading creative women and business leaders.
The celebration moved to the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, in the evening of the same day for the special screening of The Supreme Price, an award-winning film by Joan Lipper, which was inspired by women and also featured civil rights activist, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, among other notable cast.
The two-day celebration of women ended at the Federal Palace Hotel on Sunday with The Woman Rising 2015 Musical Concert, which was hosted by Kemi Lala Akindoju and Aderonke Adebanjo.
The concert, which attracted notable personalities, kicked off with a special composed instrumental interlude performed by an all-female jazz ensemble and directed by classical jazz pianist, Rolake Akinkugbe.
Talented singers, including Nigeria’s Ruby Gyang, Modele, Tonye and United Kingdom-based Bumi Thomas, also delivered sterling performances which drew applause from the appreciative guests.
Notable among the guests were Hon. Consul of Switzerland, Marlies Allan; Executive Director, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), Hafsat Abiola-Costello; as well as notable actresses, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Iretiola Doyle.
Founder, Woman Rising and Curator for The Life House, Ugoma Adegoke, who was visibly elated, thanked Etisalat Nigeria for its continued support of celebrating women through the Woman Rising initiative.
The initiative is an arts development and performance event designed to bolster community development and capacity-building through music and craftsmanship. It is organised by The Life House.
