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In Lagos, where the sun hangs like molten gold over the Atlantic, a gathering of formidable women took place at the Innovation Hub on Victoria Island. It was the kind of afternoon where history is made, not in grand, sweeping gestures, but in the quiet conviction of shared wisdom.
The occasion: Inspiration to Action, a BusinessDay and Interswitch event marking International Women’s Day 2025 with the theme ‘Leveraging Innovation for Positive Change.’
They arrived, these women, some with the confident gait of experience, others with the nervous energy of those just beginning to shape their dreams. From Generation X, the battle-tested pioneers, to Generation Z, the digital natives who tweet as they breathe—three generations sat together, bound by a single purpose: to unravel the threads of innovation and wealth creation in a world that has not always been designed with women in mind.
Technology as the Great Equalizer
Africa, a continent where wealth often moves like an ancestral whisper—guarded, inherited, elusive—has seen a quiet revolution. Cell phones, once a luxury, have become portals to financial inclusion.
For women at the bottom of the economic pyramid, access is no longer a question of privilege; it is now a matter of connectivity. “Seventy per cent of our population exists in this reality,” Oremeyi Adeola Akah, chief customer success officer, at Interswitch, a leading Africa-focused integrated digital payments company, noted, her voice firm with conviction. “Technology is not just bridging gaps; it is rewriting destinies.”
Linda Ochugbua, digital manager at BusinessDay Media Limited, captured this shift in her opening remarks. “Look around,” she said, gesturing toward the room filled with women in leadership. “This was rare seven years ago. Today, we see more female CEOs. The tides are turning.”
Akah, took it a step further. “Women have easier access to finance than ever before. Traditional banks, with their rigid demands for collateral, have long kept women out. But now, fintechs offer microcredits—up to N1 million—without collateral. The gatekeepers are losing their grip.”
The Marketplace of Ideas and Social Media as a Leveler
The conversation turned to social media, that vast, borderless marketplace where visibility is currency and perception is power. “You can build an empire on Instagram,” said Bisi Sotunde, managing director of BusyBee Events. “TikTok, Meta AI, ChatGPT—they are not just distractions; they are tools. They shape knowledge, brand identity, and market trends. Canva helps with mood boards. The digital space is not just for entertainment—it is a battleground for economic independence.”
Women, once told to shrink themselves, are now branding themselves—turning their skills, their stories, and their struggles into businesses that flourish.
Wealth, Legacy, and the Cultural Hurdles
But money, like power, is still wrapped in layers of cultural conditioning. “Women are taught to be seen, not heard,” said Glory Edozien, founder of Inspired by Glory Academy. “We second-guess ourselves. We make ourselves small. But wealth does not respect modesty. Own your story. Build capacity. Push.”
Abiola Adediran, family business advisor and partner at Genea Family Office laid out the unvarnished truth: “There are principles of wealth creation. Start where you are. List your assets. List your liabilities. Paint a clear picture of what you want to achieve.”
She introduced the 50-30-20 principle: spend 50% on needs, allocate 30% to debts, and invest the remaining 20%. “Money loves structure,” she said. “It is a good servant, but a terrible master. Pay yourself first.”
Odiri Oginni, CEO of United Capital Asset Management Limited, spoke of risk-taking and long-term planning. “If your net worth is not at least three times your gross annual earnings, you have work to do,” she said. “Start early. Seek professional advice. Enter the equities market with a long-term view.”
A New Dawn, A Different Legacy
As the event drew to a close, there was a sense that something had shifted—not just in the minds of those who spoke, but in the hearts of those who listened. This was not just a conference. It was a manifesto, a declaration that the rules of wealth creation are no longer written by men alone.
A young woman in the audience stood up to speak. She did not introduce herself. She did not need to. “For the first time,” she said, “I believe I can build something that lasts.”
And in that moment, the future—bold, bright, and unmistakably female—took another step forward.
