The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Nigeria’s former Education Minister, former aspirant in the 2019 Presidential election and Senior Economic Adviser, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and Mrs. Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder, House of Tara will be lead speakers at the Lead Generation Initiative (LGI)’s Virtual Conference coming up on Monday 8th March 2021.
The virtual conference, which is part of the LGI’s activities to mark 2021 International Women’s Day, themed #ChooseToChallenge, aims to celebrate, educate and encourage young women across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Similarly, the virtual conference is part of the numerous programmes of the Lead Generation Initiative Women’s Leadership Development Programme (WLDP), which is designed to raise gender equality awareness, celebrate women’s achievements, inspire and encourage women to get involved in the country’s socio-political process, leadership and governance.
The event will be hosted by the Executive Director of the LGI, Chief (Mrs.) Ayobola Abiola Peller, and will be anchored by a prominent TV personality, Mrs. Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the host of a popular television programme, Your View, on Television Continental (TVC).
Furthermore, while Dr. Ezekwesili will deliver a keynote speech on the topic – “Choosing to Challenge: Empowering Women for National Development”, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa will speak on the topic – “Women in Leadership”. Mrs. Durotoye will also speak on the topic, Starting and Running a Successful Business in Nigeria: the Opportunities for Young Ladies.
In the same vein, the conference will witness three panel sessions with four panelists for each, where participants will have the opportunity to join any of the breakout sessions in their areas on interest choosing between Business, Politics or Corporate Organizations.
The topics under discussions during the three panel sessions will be:
*Navigating the waters of politics*
*A Woman’s World is the Business World*
*Climbing the Corporate/Organizational Ladder*
Some of the expected panelists at the event are Hajia Umma Getso, Hon. Mrs. Stella Okotete, Member APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (Women Rep), Hon. Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu, Hon. Taiwo Oluga, Chairman, House Committee Women in Parliament, Edem Ossai, Hajia Zariyatu Hashidu, CEO of Wildan Care Foundation, Dr. Morenike Basharu CEO of Dewia Options, Damilola Olokesusi, Farida Yahya, Founder Lumo Natura and others.
Commendably, another outstanding part of the event will be LGI empowering 12 young women across the six geo-political zones of the country with a business grant of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each, and another set of six young women with fifty thousand naira (N50,000) each during the event.
While the first 12 beneficiaries would be selected to win a business proposal grant of N100,000 each where participants are required to make a two-minute pitch video of their business or business ideas, the remaining six beneficiaries will be selected from the essay writing competition where participants are required to write essays on the topics discussed within the three breakout sessions.
In the same vein, as part of its Women’s Leadership Development Programme, LGI is sponsoring two participants to attend the Global Women Leadership & Governance Summit by the Geofidel Institute for Gender Studies. Winners of the award will attend a one week-long training on “Advanced Women Leadership Summit: Preparing Women for Board Service” from week commencing 8th March 2021. Two women candidates will be selected based on the merit of their passion for leadership.
