Nsikak-Abasi Orok, clerk of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has urged Nigerian women to invest in lifelong learning, embrace new technologies, new methodologies, and global trends to grow in management and leadership.
“Build systems that support growth: advocate for policies that create flexible workspaces, support for working mothers, and equal access to opportunities. Mentor and sponsor others: Be the ladder others can climb,” Orok stated in a keynote speech delivered at the 2025 edition of Women in Management and Leadership (WIMLEAD) conference held in Uyo recently.
The annual conference was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered (NIM), with the theme, ‘Empowered to Excel- Redefining Leadership, Growth and Balance for Women in a Changing World.’
According to Orok, true growth means building structures that outlive the builders, and urged the women to remember that leadership without legacy is an illusion. She added that the conference’s theme dares women to reflect, just as it challenges them to adapt. “And above all, it calls us to lead—not in the image of past conventions, but with the courage to reshape the future.”
Orok stated that women bring to leadership a rare blend of empathy, strategic foresight, emotional intelligence, and resilience. According to her, these are no longer ‘soft skills,’ because such skills are now considered power skills in the workplace.
She stated that women are now leading movements, running governments, building companies, heading families, and mentoring communities. However, despite the strides, she stated that gender disparities remain persistent, especially in leadership, representation, and equal opportunities.
“Our world today is experiencing unprecedented shifts: from technology to climate, from global economics to cultural expectations, from boardrooms to the ballot boxes. At the heart of these transformations stands the woman—resilient, visionary, determined.”
Orok also urged women in management to collaborate to raise leaders who are not afraid to be both strong and soft, decisive and humble, assertive and inclusive. “Redefining leadership means breaking stereotypes that say, ‘Leadership looks like this.’ It means embracing diverse leadership styles—where compassion is not weakness, and vulnerability is not incompetence.”
Abimbola Ayuba, president & chairman of council, NIM, stated that Nigerian women have done exceptionally well in every area of human endeavour ranging from the home front to the academia, business, corporate world, the boardroom and the political space.
“They exhibit the highest level of excellence, determination and inspiration by managing human and material resources with accountability, transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, equity, honesty and integrity which are the core values of the Institute,” Ayuba stated.
According to him, conscious effort must be made by all stakeholders to encourage women instead of impeding their march to the top. “I am convinced that women are not asking to be gifted management and leadership positions but are only demanding a level playing field to compete favourably because they possess all it takes to excel at the top.”
