It was a day of learning and fun away from the formal university setting as a cross-section of female staff of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, were treated to a full dose of inspiration, motivation, and strategic insight at the Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) August 2025 Lagos Roundtable held exclusively for women of UNILAG.
The event, which took place on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at Nordic Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was a gathering of a distinguished cohort of UNILAG female members of staff drawn from the academic and non-teaching cadre including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Professor Bola Oboh; Registrar, Mrs V. Abosede Wickliffe; Bursar, Mrs. Oluwafunmilola Y. Adekunle; Chairman, Board of Academic Publishing Centre, UNILAG, Southwest Zone and immediate-past University Librarian, Professor Yetunde Zaid; among others.
The Roundtable featured three sessions handled by renowned professionals in various fields: Pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships (RISP), University of Ibadan and Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; MD/CEO, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, and MD/CEO of Pinnacle Medical Services, Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri. Each presentation ended with a question and answer session, which gave participants the opportunity to seek further clarity on thorny issues.
A Day to Learn, Unlearn and Relearn
Welcoming attendees, Executive Director of WIMBIZ, Mrs. Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, delivered a compelling address which highlighted current statistics on female leadership in Nigerian universities, and the need for strategic efforts to change the status-quo. She discussed the systemic challenges women face in the education sector and emphasized the importance of inclusive decision-making.
Her words, “It isn’t women versus men. It is about everyone coming to the table so that we can all have that collective view and come up with decisions and policies that would drive things in the right direction. Wanting to aspire for that leadership position isn’t only about you; it is about you being able to make a change for other women, the generation to come, and for the right decisions to be made at the table.”
Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, shared her vision for the gathering, urging participants to remain focused, resilient, and confident in their leadership journeys.
Her words, “You have it in you to be leaders. Don’t let people’s words stop you. Don’t be afraid! No matter the fear, keep moving. Just take it one day at a time because every strength you need, you already have… Always be a glass-half-full person, for a person who does not believe that things are finished will continue to strive; but if you are a glass-half-empty person, you’ve given up… So just go for it”.
Keynote 1: Breaking Barriers and Building Purpose
Pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships (RISP), University of Ibadan and Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo delivered an enthralling speech on “Inspiring Confident, Purpose-Driven, and Change-Making Women Leaders”. She addressed societal, organisational, and personal barriers to women’s advancement and offered practical strategies for overcoming them.
She urged attendees to leave their comfort zones, challenge stereotypes, institutions, structures and societal boundaries; tackle imposter syndrome, take pride in their accomplishments, conquer perfectionism, build the right alliances, and seek cross-functional development opportunities and positions among other things.
She also charged participants to set SMARTER goals, prioritise themselves, choose courage by speaking up, pursue excellence in all they do, mentor others and be mentorable, manage their expectations and support “the woman” agenda.
Her final words can be summed as a charge to participants to, “Be the woman charting the future.”
Keynote 2: 5 Fs for Living
Sharing her leadership journey, MD/CEO, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, stressed the importance of having a supportive husband, showing up, embracing failure and learning from such failures.
Lauding the Vice-Chancellor for the initiative and the seeds sown in the hearts of attendees, she discussed her 5 Fs for living. These 5 Fs are:
- Faith in God,
- Family,
- Future,
- Food, and
- Fun/Friends.
Mrs. Oni encouraged attendees to be less emotional, separate personal life and work, build friendships, create memories with family and help team mates to create memories, learn political intelligence, build their network, blow their trumpets, build confidence in themselves and step into leadership roles with confidence. In a nutshell, she charged the women to “do it afraid!”
She also shared a quote by Simon Sinek, “Leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of those in your charge”, alluding that leaders should not just give orders and make decisions, but should also prioritise the well-being and development of their team members.
Keynote 3: Building Confidence and Ambition
Popularly known as The Celebrity Shrink, Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, MD/CEO of Pinnacle Medical Services, presented a dynamic framework using the acronym, UNILAG, to guide women in building confidence and ambition. According to her:
- U – Uncover your worth through life audits and wellness-wheel exercises
- N– Nurture your mindset and voice by making a mindset shift, and learning to see challenges as opportunities for growth
- I – Invest in your growth by creating a vision and SMARTER goals for yourself
- L – Lead with courage by working on yourself daily and applying the 80/20 principle
- A – Aspire beyond limits by designing your environment for success
- G – Guard your energy by learning new skills & improving upon existing ones. Set, communicate and keep boundaries.
She advised attendees to practise self-care and have fun while going through a process.
Take home
Anchored by the Head Teacher, Debiruss Nursery and Primary School, Lagos, Mrs. Temidayo Adesanya, the exclusive WIMBIZ roundtable for UNILAG women with the theme: Women in Leadership: Inspiring Confident, Purpose-Driven, and Change-Makers delivered on its promise.
The event climaxed with participants bursting with renewed energy to pursue self-care, intentional living, and courageous leadership aimed at inspiring and mentoring the next generation of change-makers.
Author: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze
Photographers: Nike Ogunshakin and Idara Angel Iwok
Article Editor: Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
Photo Editor: Nike Ogunshakin
