Alakija and Okoli Inspire Women to Drive Social Change

At the 10th Voice of Women Conference and Awards held in Lagos, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, a businesswoman and philanthropist, urged Nigerian women to move beyond merely having a voice to actively leading societal transformation. As the keynote speaker, she emphasized that a voice must translate into solutions to create lasting change, stating, “A voice by itself is only potential.” Alakija shared her journey from office administration and banking to her ventures in fashion, oil and gas, and philanthropy, stressing the need for women to develop the capacity to influence and impact their communities.

She highlighted that Nigeria requires women who will leverage their success to address social issues. Dr. Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, also spoke at the event, advocating for women to use their voices to build businesses that contribute to national development.

She encouraged young women to start their entrepreneurial journeys, regardless of their initial resources.