On March 6, 2025, the Sustainable Development Goals for Her Initiative (SDGforHer) in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University, organised the inaugural International Women’s Day Conference at Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos. The event saw various private, public and development attendees, with active participation from thought leaders and youth advocates. The Conference was an inspiring, insightful and action-driven gathering that brought together thought leaders, policymakers, corporate executives and changemakers to discuss practical strategies for advancing gender equality. With the theme “All Hands on Deck: Advancing Gender Equality Through Collective Action,” the conference underscored the power of collaboration in driving meaningful impact.

Opening Session: Our SDGforHer Story

The event commenced with an in-depth exploration of SDGforHer’s mission and impact, highlighting the organization’s commitment to advancing gender equality through policy advocacy, economic empowerment and capacity-building initiatives. Founder Hannah Ayilaran-Omon reflected on the organization’s journey, challenges, and triumphs during its two-year trajectory, emphasizing its grassroots focus on addressing systemic barriers faced by Nigerian women and girls.

She highlighted SDGforHer has directly supported over 2,650 women and girls in Lagos through programs like financial literacy training, education access and community drives. She underscored the need to move beyond symbolic commitments, advocating for actionable solutions to ensure financial inclusion and equitable resource access for women and girls. she also reiterated the urgency of collaborative efforts, urging stakeholders to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to accelerate progress toward gender equality.

Keynote Address: A Firestarter for Change

Mrs. Titilayo Akisanya’s keynote speech at the SDGforHer IWD conference underscored the imperative of translating commitments into measurable action, aligning with the theme “All Hands on Deck: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Collective Action”. She stressed that gender equality requires systemic accountability, not merely rhetorical support. 

SDGfocusChat: Conversations That Matter

The SDGfocusChat, hosted by MC, Oluwafeyisayo Oyebisi, provided a space for attendees to reflect on their personal journeys, their roles in the gender equality movement and how their aspirations align with a global vision. It was an intimate, thought-provoking session that left attendees feeling seen and heard.

Panel 1: From Policy to Progress

Moderated by Mrs. Mabel Adeteye (Head, Brand, Marketing & Communications, Wema Bank), this session explored policy and progress: Implementing Actionable Steps for gender equality. With Mrs. Temitayo Sogbola (Managing Director, RiskTech and Advisory) and Mr. Ikeolumba Jonathan Obinna (Managing Partner, Officelord Consulting), the panel discussed leadership, workplace policies and economic empowerment, giving attendees real-world strategies to implement.

Financing Change: Expert’s Insight

Mrs. Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Executive Director of Alternative Bank, delivered a compelling insight session, providing a corporate and financial lens on gender inclusion, leadership pipelines and breaking systemic barriers for women.

Panel 2: Bridging the Gap – Collaboration for Real Impact

Moderated by Tawakalit Kareem (Associate Managing Partner, WGC C), this panel explored multi-sectoral collaboration, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and funding for women-led businesses. Featuring:

• Mrs. Nnena Jacob (Group Head, Gender Desk, FCMB)
• Mrs. Crystal Chigbu (Founder, Irede Foundation)
• Mr. Edward Fagbohun (Head, Senior Manager, Programme Implementation, MTN Foundation)

The discussion emphasized how businesses, communities and policymakers must work together to accelerate gender equity at every level.

AI for Good: The Role of AI in Gender Equality

Mr. Deji Peter Falope led an eye-opening session on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in gender equality, discussing how AI can be leveraged to reduce bias in hiring, improve financial accessibility and drive inclusive innovation.

Call to Action: Turning Inspiration into Impact

To wrap up this transformative experience, Hannah Ayilaran (Founder, SDGforHER) delivered a compelling Call to Action, urging attendees to commit to real, measurable actions in their personal and professional spaces.

She left us with four key takeaways:
– Strengthen policies that empower women
– Support and fund women-led businesses
– Foster inclusivity in workplaces and leadership spaces
– Champion mentorship and sponsorship for young women

A Community, A Movement, A Collective Force

Beyond the panels and discussions, what made this event truly special was the people. Attendees connected with incredible women, shared personal reflections and left feeling like part of something bigger than themselves.

As one attendee beautifully put it:
“Like every SDGforHER event I come out for, I left feeling different, inspired, awakened. I met incredible ladies. I reflected on my personal goals and how they tie into a global vision.”

The SDGforHER 2025 IWD Conference was not just about learning, it was about mobilizing, empowering, and inspiring action. 

And as we move forward, we do so together, ready to create lasting change.