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| Group Photograph of the Speakers at the Women Community in Africa (WCA) Town Hall Meeting which held in Abuja |
By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
On July 31, 2025, I had the privilege of speaking at the Women Community in Africa (WCA) Town Hall Meeting, held under the theme: “Empowered to Lead – Changing Attitudes Towards Female Leadership.” This was hosted as a prelude to the 2025 Women’s Summit in Rwanda as a bold gathering and necessary conversation confronting how we perceive, portray, and position women in leadership across the continent.
I participated in a panel and gave a talk titled: “Media, Pop Culture, and the Reinvention of the Female Leader.” But more than just contributing to the conversation, I found myself deeply moved by the collective honesty in the room: by the stories, ideas, and visions that dared to reimagine leadership through an African feminist lens.
Let me take you into that room.
***
A Call to Courage: Opening Reflections
Prince Kasumu Ademola, Chairperson of WCA, opened with a truth that’s often hidden in plain sight: “For generations, women have been the backbone of our communities. Yet, we have seen the contributions of women, often underrepresented or unrecognized.”
He didn’t sugarcoat the challenges. He named the structures that have asked women to remain in the shadows. But he also offered hope, pointing to Rwanda as a living example of what happens when women are given room to lead. “When women are empowered, societies flourish, economies grow, and peace thrives.”
His words weren’t ceremonial. They were an invocation: Let us not leave this room unchanged.
Dr. Adetoun Dally, Global President of WCA, followed with a welcome that was part celebration, part challenge. She highlighted countries like Namibia, Ghana, and Rwanda, where representation of women in governance is growing. “The status quo must be challenged so we can create complementary views of women rather than competitive ones.”
It was a theme that would echo throughout the day: leadership is not a battle of the sexes—it’s a rebalancing of systems for everyone’s benefit.
Voices Rising: From Poetry to Policy
One of the most striking moments came from Joy Life Alegbemi, a young poet, advocate, and Day Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria. She delivered a piece that quieted the room: “Our perspectives matter. Our voices, too.”
Her passion wasn’t just poetic; it was practical. She mentors girls aged 10 to 18 on their rights and values, and recently published a book aimed at shifting how Nigerian girls see themselves. “If we truly want a better Nigeria,” she said, “we must include young people—especially women and girls.”
Her presence reminded us that the future is already speaking. The question is, are we listening?
Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs in the FCT, represented by Dr. Zainab Bubba Marwa, spoke passionately about the historical roots of male-dominated leadership in Nigeria. She pointed to colonialism as the origin of this imbalance, arguing that prior to colonial influence, women had long been central to societal growth and leadership. She emphasized that women are not only capable but are, in fact, catalysts for development—intelligent, bold, and strategic partners in leadership. Mrs. Benjamins-Laniyi championed feminism as a "radical" but necessary declaration of a simple truth: women are people too, deserving of equal voice and opportunity.
Representing the Ambassador of Belgium, H.E. Pieter Leenknegt, Mrs. Evelyn George shared insights into Belgium’s approach to gender equality in politics. She highlighted that Belgian electoral law mandates 50% female representation, a legal measure that political parties cannot sidestep. Though there may be discomfort with the concept of quotas, she noted, their effectiveness in achieving balance cannot be denied. She stressed that change must be intentional and that pressure for reform should be applied strategically within political systems to ensure lasting impact.
The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) offered a moving personal account of generational change. Her mother, denied an education, had worked hard to put her brothers through school, while her own father broke that cycle by ensuring she received an education—all the way to a PhD—before marriage. She expressed gratitude to men who amplify women’s voices in their homes and communities. She emphasized the importance of parenting in shaping future gender dynamics, warning against raising boys to feel superior to girls and advocating for equal responsibilities and opportunities within the home. “We should not just talk,” she said, “we should do.”
And Chizoba Ogbeche, Deputy National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), called for introspection among women themselves. She posed direct questions: How many women are prepared to run for office? How many are registered voters or active members of political parties? Ogbeche challenged women not only to demand political representation but to take proactive steps to claim it. Her message was clear—reserved seats mean little if women are not ready and willing to fill them.
Together, these voices painted a picture: real gender equality requires cultural shifts, supportive laws, active participation, and commitment, both from institutions and individuals, women and men alike.
Facing the Workplace: Bias, Barriers, and the Glass Ceiling
AIG Aishatu Abubakar Baju addressed the realities women face in professional settings. From subtle bias to overt harassment, she detailed how workplace culture still acts as a gatekeeper, even when laws appear inclusive. “The ceiling is still there,” she noted. “It’s just become harder to see—because now it’s made of glass.”
Secondary school students from schools in Abuja debated whether female quotas should be compulsory in African politics, presenting thoughtful and passionate arguments on both sides. The affirmative team emphasized that quotas are essential to correct historical and cultural barriers that have excluded women, citing examples like Rwanda’s success in boosting female representation. Meanwhile, the opposition argued that while gender equality is vital, quotas risk tokenism and that true empowerment comes from education, mentorship, and creating equal opportunities without mandated quotas. The debate highlighted the complexity of the issue and showcased the young generation’s deep engagement with gender and leadership, leaving the audience hopeful for a more inclusive political future.
A Legislative Wake-Up Call
Honorable Kafilat Ogbara delivered a keynote that was both fierce and affirming. She acknowledged our progress but didn’t let us get comfortable: “Despite our advancements, many still question a woman’s capability to lead… too often overlooking the wealth of experience we bring to the table.”
She spoke passionately about her work on bills to increase women’s participation in security agencies and legislative institutions. And she didn’t mince words about the pushback: “People must stop thinking that women can be bullied out of leadership.”
Perhaps her most resounding call came in her closing line: “Let us commit to a world where empowered women lead with confidence, compassion, and conviction.”
Dr. Khadijah Abdullahi Iya, Founder of WCA, delivered a powerful address questioning why Nigeria has never had a female governor, sharing her own groundbreaking experience as the first female gubernatorial candidate in her state during the 2023 elections. She emphasized that progress requires a deep examination of the traditional, religious, and cultural barriers that continue to hold women back.
Dr. Iya urged society to “critically evaluate which cultural values should be preserved and which should be adapted or discarded to foster true inclusion”. While affirming the importance of cultural identity, she called for an evolution that embraces change and personal empowerment. Importantly, she clarified that women do not seek to “take men’s seats” but rather to claim leadership roles that should never have been defined by gender in the first place.
Global Echoes: What the World Had to Say
Ambassador Christopher Bazivamo of Rwanda gave one of the most direct and data-rich endorsements of gender parity: “Nobody should see gender inclusion as a favor. It is a right… You cannot have more than 50% of the population and think they should not be in governance.”
He reminded us that Rwanda now has equal gender representation in its parliament. The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and two Deputy Presidents are women.
From Pakistan, Major General (Rtd.) Sohail Ahmad Khan offered a historical view: “In the olden times, women were seen as property. That legacy still lingers… If we do not identify the role of women in governance, how can they fill it?”
Ambassador Oumar Coulibaly of Mali expressed his country’s strong commitment to promoting human rights, with a special focus on the rights of women and children.
Hon. Nnenna Ukeje, whom I have come to respect since I first watched the Double Minority documentary on women in governance in Nigeria, delivered what may have been the quote of the day: “It will take 300 years to reach gender equality. That’s three centuries of struggle.”
She questioned how long we would allow the same systems to shape our daughters. She pushed us to think of privilege not as earned power but as inherited silence. “Privilege is not seen by those who enjoy it. We must untell the stories of affirmative action—because men have long been its biggest beneficiaries.”
The statement on men being the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action stayed with me for so long. First, men have excluded (or better still, relegated) women to specific areas of society and development. And women have sought to choose our own paths and be equal contributing members of society, we are met with emotional, physical, and psychological violence. So yes, men have been the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action.
My Session: Culture as Catalyst
During the panel on Cultural Norms vs. Transformational Leadership, I shared my reflections on how media and pop culture shape leadership narratives, often before politics or policy ever enter the picture.
I opened with “Leadership doesn’t start in boardrooms or parliaments—it often begins in how we are seen, talked about, and imagined in everyday culture.”
We talked about how films, music, and digital spaces become the blueprint for who is deemed “leader material.” And too often, that blueprint is male, dominant, and unchallenged.
I asked the audience to remember “You can’t be what you can’t see.” When women and girls don’t see leaders who look like them—especially in complexity and power—they shrink their aspirations before they have even begun.
But it is not all bleak. We have cultural beacons:
Queen Ramonda in Black Panther who was wise, regal, and politically savvy.
Eniola Salami in King of Boys, a woman unafraid to wield influence in a male-dominated world: even if that world was one of crime.
Stories like Smart Money Woman and Flawsome which show African women navigating success, struggle, and growth.
The reason I used good and bad examples of women was to emphasize that women are not monoliths. Like other humans, we are capable of great good or evil. We must therefore treat women as the people we are, and not the stereotypes steeped in patriarchy and misogyny that we often see.
I also raised caution about the “strong Black woman” trope. While affirming, it can sometimes box women into expectations of endless resilience. “We must move from showing women only as strong to showing them as fully human: capable of vulnerability, needing support, and still being excellent leaders.”
A Forward Path: The Kigali Summit Awaits
All of this energy is building toward something bigger: The WCA Women’s Summit 2025, happening October 8–10 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Theme:
“From Representation to Protection: The Impact of Women’s Leadership in Shaping Good Governance and Ending Gender-Based Violence – A Case Study of Rwanda.”
Why Kigali?
Because Rwanda doesn’t just talk about gender equity, it legislates it. It lives it.
Summit Features:
Speakers from across Africa and the diaspora
Strategy sessions on gender-based violence
Policy dialogues on governance and representation
Cultural showcases and community spotlights
Registration Details:
On-Site Participants
WCA Members: ₦120,000 (₦84,000 early bird)
Non-Members: ₦150,000 (₦104,000 early bird)
Online Participants
$20 or ₦25,000
Students attend online FREE
Accommodation (Shared Apartment for 4 Nights)
₦179,000–₦205,000 (2 per room)
Return Flight (Lagos – Kigali – Lagos):
₦1,135,104
Total Estimated Cost for On-Site Early Bird:
WCA Members: ₦1,404,604
Non-Members: ₦1,424,604
(Exchange rate used: $1 = ₦1,536)
To Register:
Visit wcasummit2025rwanda.com
Payment: Zenith Bank, Account No: 1229923611
Account Name: WCA Summit
Final Thoughts: Changing the Narrative, Together
Leaving the Town Hall, I felt two things equally: fire and responsibility. We cannot afford to let this conversation stop in meeting rooms or echo chambers.
We must create new stories, model new leadership, and rewrite the norms our daughters will grow up under.
Because every story we tell plants a seed. And every seed sown—through media, mentorship, policy, or protest—shapes the Africa we are building.
Let us lead.
Let us imagine.
Let us never stop.
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