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| FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA |
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| TOYIN SARAKI & GBEMI SHASORE |
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| JASMINE TUKUR, TOYIN SARAKI & GBEMI SHASORE |
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| OLUCHI ORLANDI |
The annual WIE Africa Conference 2014 took place to a loud ovation in the very vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Kofo Abayomi Drive, Victoria Island, Lagos.
On the date stated above, women leaders from across the globe gathered at the venue in Lagos to empower and inspire the next generations of leaders. WIE means Women: Inspiration & Enterprise. This year's conference was hosted by the Dee Poku, who is the founder of the organization and she was joined as co-hostess by the former first lady of Kwara State, the gorgeously elegant philanthropist, Her Excellency Mrs. Toyin Saraki, who is the the founder-president of the Well-Being Foundation Africa, the ex-first lady we hear was the symposium sponsor. She co-hosted the very successful symposium with the likes of renowned designer Folake Folarin-Coker, talk show host & top media personality Mo Abudu, who is the founder & MD/CEO of EbonyLife TV, also there as a co-hostess was media personality Julie Giuchuru.
The theme of this year's discuss was ''Bridging the Gap- The Global Leader''. The idea behind those chosen to host the conference from media to entrepreneurship, fashion to finance was so as to inspire a whole gamut of the next generation of women leaders in those areas of endeavours towards leadership. The idea is to help inspire the future women leaders towards taking very central roles in the shaping of the Africa of the future. The aim also is to help change the negative perceptions of Africa in general, by presenting highly successful African women & innovations.
The headliner for this year's conference was none other than the richest black woman on the face of the universe, the gorgeous & very industrious Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, who is the MD of Famfa Oil & Gas; she shared with the participants her very inspirational life experience to a very captive audience.
The founder-president of the Well-Being Foundation Africa, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, moderated the Nike Foundation 'Girl Effect' panel, which was titled 'Our Future: This is the Moment to invest in Girls. In her welcome address to the participants of the WIE Africa symposium 2014, Mrs. Saraki stated that ''women and girls “play a great role in today’s global economy; and in order to make an impact in [their] spheres of influence, professions, vocations and passions, all women should be fulfilled, empowered and achievement-driven.”
To address the marginalization of adolescent girls, who are key change agents in society, the Nike Foundation’s ‘Girl Effect’ initiative continues to promote the Girl Declaration, which is fully supported by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa. The Foundation has long challenged practices that hinder the prosperity of the girl child, such as child marriage and domestic violence, while promoting behaviours that ensure their progress, such as girl education.
Stimulating
a loud applause from the delegates, Miss Salamatu 17, said “A real
woman is a woman who seeks to empower others and is a role model to
other women” while Miss Aisha, 19, articulated the best of the
Symposium’s goal; When she said "I am here to be the voice of the girls who
cannot be here."
Some of those we caught sight of at the event were the likes of ex-supermodel Oluchi Orlandi, ED Polo Ltd Jennifer Obayuwana, Gbemi Shasore, Jasmine Tukur, MD Bobby Taylor Consulting Bukky Karibi-Whyte, tv show host Dolapo Oni, OAP Kayla Oniwo, fashion editor & top stylist Ezinne Chinkata, former MD of Mnet Africa Biola Alabi, actor/model Gbenro Ajibade, Reni Folawiyo, Editor The Pride Magazine Latasha Ngwube, founder Glam Report Bola Balogun, Creative Director HON Ugonna Omeruo, elegant stallion Onyeka Onwenu, deputy editor Hello! Nigeria Onah Nwachukwu, publisher Genevieve Magazine Betty Irabor, ex-MBGN Nike Oshinowo, International Make Up artist Eryca Freemantle, host of The Protege & OAP Fade Ogunro, Publisher Exquisite MagazineTewa Onasanya and very many others.
We have a few of the pictures of the event for your viewing pleasure. Some of the pictures were sourced from Style Vitae.
MORE PICTURES AFTER THE BREAK. CLICK ON READ MORE BELOW
