Oteh, Justice Augie, Olori Atuwatse III, others to speak at WIMBIZ 24th annual conference
By Eberechi Obinagwam
The Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has confirmed that a former Vice President of the World Bank, Arunma Oteh, will be the keynote speaker of its highly anticipated Annual Conference. The conference will also feature Hon. Justice Amina Augie, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as chairperson.
The hybrid event, themed “O.W.N Walk. Nurture.” is set to take place with both virtual and physical attendance options, bringing together women from various sectors around the world in different countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ghana, Cameroon, United Arab Emirates and lots more come together to engage in transformative dialogue and learning.
In her opening remarks, Bisi Adeyemi, Chairman, WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, commended the media for their support and noted that the WIMBIZ Annual Conference is a call to action for all women to own their stories, as it is a show of strength and resilience in their journey towards attaining leadership positions.
Speaking during the pre-event press briefing held in Lagos, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director, WIMBIZ, underscored the significance of the conference, which remains the flagship event of the organisation. In her remarks, she emphasised WIMBIZ’s long-standing commitment to empowering women, particularly in leadership roles. She highlighted that the conference has played a key role in inspiring over 344,335 women throughout its history.
On her part, Abimbola Wright, Chair, 2025 Conference Planning Group (CPG), confirmed that this year’s conference is a rallying call for women to OWN their story, voice, and space at the table, WALK in power, embodying courage and authenticity, NURTURE others, especially the next generation, through mentorship and collaboration.
According to Abimbola, this year’s theme, O.W.N – Own, Walk, Nurture, was chosen with deep reflection on the realities that women face today. Too many women, even those who are accomplished, still wrestle with barriers that limit their potential, from stereotyping and imposter syndrome to domestic responsibilities, health challenges, and the weight of societal expectations. Many have paused their dreams, hidden their light, or questioned their worth because of the labels society places on them.
In her words, “At WIMBIZ, we believe it’s time to change that narrative. We are calling on every woman to Own her story — to take charge of her experiences, the good and the not-so-perfect, and recognize the strength that lies within them. We want women to Walk in power — not in fear, not in comparison, but in confidence and authenticity. To walk in power means embracing who you are and taking bold steps toward who you are meant to be. And finally, we encourage women to Nurture the future — to support one another, mentor the next generation, and build communities of love, strength, and impact.
The 24th edition of the conference promises a diverse agenda, including four plenary sessions, two deep dive sessions, a fireside chat and an exciting debate. Among the plenary sessions, “The Wealth Playbook: Women, Economic Power & Sustainability, Protirement: Reimagining the Next Chapter with Purpose, Whole Woman, Whole Life: Wellness as a Journey, Not a Destination, Rethink, Reframe, Revitalize: The Power of Inter-generational Collaboration, amongst others.
On her part, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Member, WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, urged all interested participants to visit the WIMBIZ website to register for the conference. She confirmed that the conference will also be accessible through the WIMBIZ app, which enables users to engage with sessions, read comments, and network with other online attendees.
Omowunmi Akingbohungbe also spoke passionately about WIMBIZ’s advocacy efforts, which lie at the heart of the organisation’s mission. According to her, WIMBIZ during the course of the year, in collaboration with the British Deputy High Commission, the Nigerian High Commission, and the Institute of Directors (IoD), hosted a webinar focused on expanding Nigerian women’s participation in international trade emphasizing cross-border collaboration, export readiness, and opportunities for women-led businesses in global markets.
Through its Women in Law initiative, WIMBIZ also organized a series of leadership and mentoring sessions reaching over 3,000 women. These included The Leadership Journey webinar and a Stakeholders’ Breakfast Dialogue, which brought together senior female legal professionals to discuss career progression, mentorship, and gender inclusion within the legal industry.
WIMBIZ also joined forces with WILAN, WISCAR, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to launch the Women in Leadership Coalition — a powerful alliance championing women’s representation across all sectors. The Coalition’s three-point agenda calls for:
A modern labour reform for Nigeria
A healthy balance in Corporate Nigeria
A governance class that truly represents all
While tasking the media and the public to amplify the WIMBIZ message, share their stories, and be part of a gathering that continues to shape the future of women in Nigeria and beyond, Omowunmi concluded the press conference with a powerful reminder of the importance of networking, stating, “Together, let’s Own our stories, Walk in power, and Nurture the future.” She encouraged all women to attend the conference, emphasising that the connections made could be instrumental in shaping their future.
By Habiba Kaita
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the reported ₦7.5 billion per kilometer cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the figure reflects the project’s quality and unique features.
Speaking during an inspection on Sunday, Umahi said the amount covers “solar lighting, retaining walls, flyovers, and shoreline protection,” adding that his “integrity is at stake” over the project’s transparency.
“My integrity is at stake. We will not allow anybody to tarnish my image,” Umahi stated, responding to the increasing public criticism over the project’s cost and execution.
This occurred shortly after a heated exchange between Umahi and Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, during a live interview on The Morning Show. The minister had clashed with the journalist after being questioned about the details of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway cost and progress. Umahi had previously avoided disclosing the project’s costs, leading to public backlash and demands for accountability.
Public Reactions on X
Nigerians have since flooded X (formerly Twitter) with strong opinions, questioning both the cost and the timing of Umahi’s response.
User @AmosSoma37877 wrote: “The way they break down these figures with confidence will make you think Nigeria is floating on gold. Every kilometer now sounds like a mini Dubai project, filled with solar lights and palm trees, yet we all know how it ends — rain falls once and half of the road disappears.”
@eteobong_edem1 added: “Why was he being defensive when Rufai Oseni asked him the same question? Now he’s talking about integrity. We need to hold these guys accountable.”
Some, however, defended Umahi’s clarification, citing varying terrain and construction challenges.
@mannylams explained: “He’s talking about a standard coastal road. The cost varies for the Lagos-Calabar route because of swampy areas, bridges, boulders, and demolitions.”
Others maintained that Oseni’s questioning had pressured the minister into revealing the cost. @OkaforC7 noted: “This is proof that challenging these politicians yields results. So what was the big deal in spelling out the figures as asked by rufai. We need to start asking more questions. Even if they see it as an insult, they’ll definitely answer.”
Meanwhile, @MizCazorla1 criticized Umahi’s tone during the earlier interview: “If Dave Umahi knows the answer as a professor in practice all these while. Why was he dilly dallying in answering Rufai during the interview? What’s all the arrogance for in the first place? It took Gov. Seyi Makinde to make a statement before he came up with a figure. SMH.”
Although Umahi’s explanation has shed some light on the project’s cost, many Nigerians remain skeptical and have renewed calls for cooperation and mutual respect between public officials and the media when handling issues involving public funds.
