When Freda Anyanwu walks into a boardroom, she is often met with skeptical glances. The unspoken question lingers in the air—”How old is she?” Years ago, those moments made her shrink, questioning if she truly belonged. But at the ADHERI Conference on Gender Equality and Financial Inclusion, Anyanwu stood tall, sharing how she turned self-doubt into self-assertion.

“I learned that I earned my place. My work speaks for itself,” she declared, drawing applause from an audience of women eager to carve out their own paths in leadership.

For many women in Nigeria, the barriers to success aren’t just institutional; they are deeply personal. Women make up 49.5% of the population but hold less than 7% of elected positions and only 26% of executive roles in the private sector. The stories shared at the conference painted a vivid picture of the struggles, and triumphs, of women pushing against these odds.

Emmanuel Etim, Co-Executive Director of Advocates for Health and Rights of Women and Youth Initiative, spoke passionately about the need for legal protections and societal shifts.

“The suspension of a female senator for speaking up sends the wrong message,” he lamented. “It discourages others from coming forward. We need policies that empower women, not silence them.”

For Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, Managing Director of the Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund, leadership isn’t just about getting to the top—it’s about staying true to one’s values. She recalled how, in her early days as a CEO, the pressure to prove herself led to hasty decisions.

“Some say leaders shouldn’t make major decisions in the first 90 days, and now I understand why,” she reflected. “Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint.”

She warned against shortcuts to success, urging young women to resist dishonesty in their careers. “People lie on their CVs thinking it will get them ahead, but at what cost? Even if you get the job, you won’t have peace.”

Money Talks: The Economic Case for Gender Equality

Beyond leadership, the conference tackled one of the most critical barriers to gender equality, financial exclusion.

Despite women owning 58% of all enterprises in Nigeria, they receive less than 2% of available funding. Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, an investment executive and anchor at Arise TV, didn’t sugarcoat the economic reality.

“Gender inequality is like trying to fly an airplane with only one wing. Nigeria’s $1 trillion GDP ambition is unattainable without fully integrating women into the economy.”

She revealed a staggering statistic: “If we close the financial access gap for women-owned businesses, we could create over 300 million new jobs annually.”

The financial literacy sessions at the conference weren’t just theoretical, they were a roadmap for women seeking funding, negotiating salaries, and investing in their future. Akinkugbe-Filani urged women to shift their mindset.

“Salary negotiations in Nigeria favor men because women often hesitate to demand their worth. That must change.”

The Power of Speaking Up

For many women, the hardest step isn’t knowing their worth, it’s demanding that others recognize it.

Emana Shunnom, Communications and Governance Consultant at the World Bank, tackled an uncomfortable truth: men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of the qualifications, while women wait until they meet 110%.

“We need to own our expertise. Stop apologizing for having a voice,” she urged.

Shunnom also pushed for policy changes, calling on Nigeria to introduce gender quotas in government and corporate boards.

“Leadership isn’t just about who sits at the table; it’s about who benefits from the decisions made at that table. Women need to be part of those decisions.”

More Than Just a Conference—A Movement

The energy in the room wasn’t just about inspiration, it was about action. From young professionals to seasoned executives, every woman left with a clear message: the doors to leadership and financial independence will not open on their own. They must be pushed.

“Will you wait for change, or will you be the reason it happens?” Akinkugbe-Filani challenged the audience.

At ADHERI, it was clear, these women weren’t waiting. They were already breaking barriers, one voice, one policy, and one financial decision at a time.