The future we seek will not be built by a few exceptional women rising to the top. It will be built by communities that understand the extraordinary power of shared progress.
Nearly every woman—whether a seasoned leader or an aspiring professional—is still navigating the consequences of inequality. In boardrooms, political offices, corporate corridors, and entrepreneurial spaces, women often have to prove themselves twice as hard for opportunities that should be accessible to all.
Inequality is everyone’s burden
Men feel it too, often without realising it. When leadership pipelines lack diversity, men carry responsibilities that could have been shared more equitably and miss out on perspectives that could lead to better outcomes. It is like trying to run a race on one leg while the other remains underutilised.
Organisations feel it as well. Performance suffers when leadership teams lack diverse perspectives. Globally, companies with gender-diverse boards are 21% more likely to outperform their peers in profitability (McKinsey & Company).
Nigeria: Progress and gaps
Nigeria tells a similar story. The recent PWR report shows that the top 30 listed organisations now have women occupying 31% of board seats, a remarkable improvement from the all-male boards of the past. Yet in governance, women hold less than 5% of National Assembly seats, and only a handful serve in ministerial or executive positions – a clear signal that talent remains under-represented at the highest decision-making levels.
The cost of this imbalance is enormous: untapped talent, slowed innovation, constrained economic growth, and weaker social cohesion.
“Give to Gain”: A call to action
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”, is urgent and necessary. It is a call to deliberate action, not passive hope. Giving here is not charity. It is intentional: sharing opportunity, influence, knowledge, and resources so that progress becomes collective, not individual.
Eight bold steps to give and gain
1. Give an opportunity
Open doors deliberately. Recommend women for leadership roles, nominate them for board seats, or invite them into strategic decision-making conversations. Funding opportunities; access to finance; and appointments, whether boards, ministerial positions, judgeships, or SANs—should all be approached with a deliberate gender lens and mandate.
2. Give knowledge
Share insights, lessons, and experience. Mentorship builds confidence, equips future leaders, and strengthens pipelines that prepare women to step boldly into leadership roles.
3. Give credit
Recognition builds credibility. Celebrate women’s contributions publicly at work, in meetings, or across industry platforms to ensure excellence is visible and inspire others to aim higher.
4. Give support
Support amplifies impact. Promote women-led initiatives, attend their events, and use your voice to boost theirs. Small acts of support create exponential outcomes.
5. Give access
Networks matter. Invite women into professional circles, strategic forums, and decision-making conversations. Access opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise remain closed.
6. Give courage
Belief is transformative. Encourage women to take bold steps—apply for promotions, launch ventures, or lead projects. Sometimes the greatest gift is a vote of confidence that sparks action.
7. Give resources
Invest in women-led businesses, fund girls’ education, and support leadership initiatives. Resources accelerate impact and create long-term social and economic value.
8. Give forward
Success is meaningful when it lifts others. Every woman who rises has the power to mentor, sponsor, and advocate for the next generation, creating a cycle of progress that benefits all.
The collective gain
Balanced opportunities do not diminish anyone’s potential—they expand possibilities for all. When women rise, organisations innovate faster, communities prosper, and economies become more resilient.
“The future we seek will not be built by a few exceptional women rising to the top. It will be built by communities that understand the extraordinary power of shared progress.”
Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director of WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business and Public Service)
