Women Leaders Push Beyond Representation for Greater Corporate Influence in Nigeria

Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.

LAGOS, Nigeria — Women leaders and senior executives are calling for a stronger shift from numerical representation to meaningful influence in corporate governance, strategic decision-making and boardroom leadership.

The call was made during the 2026 Women Directors’ Biennial Conference organised by the Women’s Group of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria in Lagos. The conference, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts in Iganmu, focused on the theme, From Presence to Power: Advancing Women’s Influence in the Boardroom.

The discussions centred on the continuing need to ensure that women occupying leadership positions have the authority, expertise and institutional access required to contribute meaningfully to corporate strategy and organisational decisions.

Ronke Sokefun, Chairperson of the CIoD Nigeria Women’s Sectoral Group, said women had made significant progress in securing leadership positions, but argued that the next challenge was translating representation into actual influence.

She said the conference was designed to equip and connect women leaders with ideas, networks and strategies capable of strengthening their participation in decision-making, driving organisational growth and contributing to Nigeria’s broader economic development.

The conference brought together directors, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers and professionals from different sectors. Discussions examined pathways to boardroom leadership, corporate governance, institutional resilience, wealth creation and strategic decision-making.

Former Lagos State Governor and former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who delivered the keynote address, also urged women to move beyond representation and exercise meaningful influence in governance and decision-making.

Fashola said effective leadership should be determined by competence rather than gender. He encouraged women serving on corporate boards to prepare thoroughly for meetings, ask critical questions, continually improve their knowledge and understand the organisations they oversee.

The conversation reflects a wider debate in Nigeria and across Africa about women’s participation in corporate leadership. While greater female representation in senior positions has received increasing attention, leadership advocates and professional bodies continue to focus on whether representation translates into substantive participation in strategy, oversight and organisational direction.

The CIoD conference therefore placed emphasis not only on occupying leadership positions but also on the capacity of women directors and executives to shape decisions, strengthen governance standards and influence long-term institutional outcomes.

For Nigerian businesses, the debate also intersects with broader questions around corporate governance, leadership development and the effective utilisation of professional talent. Strengthening women’s participation at decision-making levels remains part of wider efforts by professional and business organisations to develop more inclusive leadership structures.

The conference’s focus on moving from presence to power consequently framed women’s corporate leadership as an issue extending beyond visibility. It placed greater emphasis on competence, governance participation, strategic influence, professional networks and the ability to contribute to decisions that determine the direction of institutions.

As Nigerian businesses navigate economic, technological and regulatory changes, discussions around who participates in strategic decision-making are likely to remain important to corporate governance and leadership development across the country.

Women leaders in Lagos have called for a shift from representation to greater corporate influence, strategic decision-making and meaningful participation in Nigeria’s boardrooms.