Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) is a Nigerian

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

that seeks to empower women.

History

The establishment of WIMBIZ was conceptualized by Chichi Okonjo, the only man among the founding members of the organization. It was co-founded in 2001 by Yewande Zaccheaus, Morin Desalu and

Omobola Johnson Omobola Olubusola Johnson (born 28 June 1963) is a Nigerian technocrat and the Honorary Chairperson of the global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI). She is also a former and first Minister of Communication Technology in the cabinet of P ...

, the former minister of communication. The formation of this organisation started when Chichi attended a women's conference in the

Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. He felt the same idea should be replicated at home. He briefed Omobola Johnson on his arrival in the country. Omobola informed Yewande Zaccheaus and Morin Desalu. The pair mobilised other members that became the founding members of the organisation.

List of Founders

Adebola Adesola Harriet-Ann Omobolanle (Bola) Adesola is the senior vice-chairman at Standard Chartered Bank Group where she was previously the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank for Nigeria and West Africa. Adesola has over 25 years of experience in the banking secto ...

Ibukun Awosika Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika (born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on December 24, 1962) is a Nigerian business woman, motivational speaker, and an author. She is the first female Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria. She was appoint ...

*Adeola Azeez * Mairo Bashir *Morin Desalu *

* Ifeoma Idigbe *Ifeyinwa Ighodalo *Chichi Okonjo * Julia Oku Jacks * Toyin Olawoye *Funmi Roberts * Yewande Zaccheaus

Annual conferences and lectures

WIMBIZ started her annual conference in 2003. Each conference is tagged with a theme and is purposed to reflect the overall mission and vision of the organisation and how to move it forward. The 13th and 14th editions of the annual conference were held at

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, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event marking the 13th edition was tagged "Nigeria Rising....Accelerating Transformation". The 14th edition was tagged "Leadership… Step Up and Stand Out!". According to The

Guardian Newspaper ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

, the Chairperson of the organisation Osayi Alile at a meeting that kicked off the conference in 2015 said "every woman must know how to manage her personal finance. One of the key challenges with women in politics for example is that most women are unable to finance their political careers. This is true in other aspects of life. How can women build their financial strength? How does the ability to grow finances impact women’s leadership? This conference will draw on personal experiences of the panelists in building a strong case for women to mind their personal finances". In the same vein, the Guardian Newspaper also reported that

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, the chairperson of the Guardian Newspaper, at the event saying "This organisation is the epitome of hope, not only to the young ones, but also to generation yet unborn. You have acquired great reputation of seeking to foster excellence among women executive in business and government in particular and other areas of human endeavour. I therefore, consider it a privileged to be asked to chair this conference,". She advised women to be well equipped in order to be able to take advantage of the opportunities beckoning at them as the ladder for reaching the top. Though, she agreed that we are in the men's world but women can still hold their ways if they are better prepared through proper education and training. Some of the high points at the event include breakout session held by Mrs

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, from the Republic of South Africa and the presentation of awards to distinguished members such as former Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, Prof. Mrs.

Grace Alele-Williams Grace Alele-Williams (16 December 1932 – 25 March 2022) was a Nigerian professor of mathematics education, who made history as the first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate, and the first Nigerian female vice-chancellor at the University ...

and former Vice Chancellor of

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, Prof.

Sidi Osho ''Sidi'' or ''Sayidi'', also Sayyidi and Sayeedi, ( ar, سيدي, Sayyīdī, Sīdī (dialectal) "milord") is an Arabic masculine title of respect. ''Sidi'' is used often to mean "saint" or "my master" in Maghrebi Arabic and Egyptian Arabic. Wi ...

. Aside the annual conference, the organisation also holds annual lectures which parade speakers from all works of life to speak to women on how they can grow to achieve their objectives in life. In 2015 the body held her annual lecture at

Muson Centre MUSON Centre (Musical Society of Nigeria) is a performance hall in Lagos. The multipurpose civic auditorium is located in the heart of Lagos Island, situated between the National Museum, the City Mall, the Onikan Stadium and the former offic ...

, Lagos Nigeria. At the event the President Council

Stock Exchange A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares of stock, bonds and other financial instruments. Stock exchanges may also provide facilities for th ...

in Nigeria, Mr.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede FCIB, CON (born 24 September 1966) is a Nigerian banker, investor and philanthropist. He was the former group managing director (GMD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Access Bank Plc. He is the founder and chairman of C ...

, said "Tough times are not uniquely Nigeria’s; you will always face challenges in the quest to succeed regardless of your nationalities and gender, you will always face challenges. Other people may not face the same type of challenges as us, but let’s not think that other people are not exempt from tough times."

References

External links

Official WebsiteConference Website
{{Human rights in Nigeria Non-profit organizations based in Nigeria Non-profit organizations based in Lagos Women in Lagos 2001 establishments in Nigeria Organizations established in 2001 Women's organizations based in Nigeria