The United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria (UNGCNN) convened business leaders, policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners for a high-level dialogue titled “Bridging the Gender Gap: Turning Intent to Impact,” in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026. The convening brought together stakeholders across sectors to focus on how gender equality commitments can translate into measurable action within governance, leadership, and access to finance.
The dialogue opened with welcome remarks from Naomi Nwokolo, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of UNGCNN, who urged organizations to move from familiar conversations to structural change. “Conversations around gender equality are no longer new. What matters now is whether those conversations are producing structural change,” she said, calling for clearer accountability, stronger leadership pipelines, and measurable targets that can be tracked over time.
In her remarks, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, Board Chairman of the UNGC Network Nigeria, underscored that progress depends on governance discipline, not good intentions alone. “Organizations rarely fail because they lack good intentions. They fail because they don’t embed those intentions in the system,” she said, challenging leaders to treat gender inclusion as a board and performance priority, including within the next 90 days.
Delivering a goodwill message, Her Excellency Barr. Chioma D. Uzodimma, First Lady of Imo State, emphasized the importance of translating commitments into outcomes that improve lives, especially at the grassroots. Speaking on the work of the Good Hope Women Flourish Initiative, she stressed that “bridging the gender gap demands collective action, strong commitment and collaboration between the public and business sectors,” and called for sustained support systems that allow women to thrive in leadership and economic participation.
Other goodwill messages included remarks from Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State, who noted that Lagos is pursuing gender inclusion as a governance and economic priority. She pointed to skills development, procurement access, and enterprise programmes as practical levers for closing gaps.From the financial sector perspective, Dr. Olaitan Adeola Martins, Group Executive, Corporate Banking at FirstBank Nigeria Limited, said the theme “challenges us to move beyond statements of support to tangible and accountable action,” urging institutions to measure progress by the barriers dismantled and the opportunities created for women.
The United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria (UNGCNN) convened business leaders, policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners for a high-level dialogue titled “Bridging the Gender Gap: Turning Intent to Impact,” in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026. The convening brought together stakeholders across sectors to focus on how gender equality commitments can translate into measurable action within governance, leadership, and access to finance.
The dialogue opened with welcome remarks from Naomi Nwokolo, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of UNGCNN, who urged organizations to move from familiar conversations to structural change. “Conversations around gender equality are no longer new. What matters now is whether those conversations are producing structural change,” she said, calling for clearer accountability, stronger leadership pipelines, and measurable targets that can be tracked over time.
In her remarks, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, Board Chairman of the UNGC Network Nigeria, underscored that progress depends on governance discipline, not good intentions alone. “Organizations rarely fail because they lack good intentions. They fail because they don’t embed those intentions in the system,” she said, challenging leaders to treat gender inclusion as a board and performance priority, including within the next 90 days.
Delivering a goodwill message, Her Excellency Barr. Chioma D. Uzodimma, First Lady of Imo State, emphasized the importance of translating commitments into outcomes that improve lives, especially at the grassroots. Speaking on the work of the Good Hope Women Flourish Initiative, she stressed that “bridging the gender gap demands collective action, strong commitment and collaboration between the public and business sectors,” and called for sustained support systems that allow women to thrive in leadership and economic participation.
Other goodwill messages included remarks from Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State, who noted that Lagos is pursuing gender inclusion as a governance and economic priority. She pointed to skills development, procurement access, and enterprise programmes as practical levers for closing gaps.From the financial sector perspective, Dr. Olaitan Adeola Martins, Group Executive, Corporate Banking at FirstBank Nigeria Limited, said the theme “challenges us to move beyond statements of support to tangible and accountable action,” urging institutions to measure progress by the barriers dismantled and the opportunities created for women.
A panel session titled “Bridging the Gender Gap in Business: Leadership, Capital, and Corporate Practice,” moderated by Gloria Okorie, Head of Programs and Partnerships at the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, featured distinguished speakers including Jumoke Akinwunmi, Co-Founder of Alitheia Capital; Patience Ekeoba, Acting Deputy Country Representative at UN Women Nigeria; Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group; and Uzoma Ben-Ude, Chief People Officer at APM Terminals.
The discussion focused on moving beyond commitments toward practical, measurable action. Panelists emphasized the need to treat gender equity as a business performance and governance issue, expand access to capital for women-led enterprises, and strengthen internal leadership pipelines to enable more women to transition into decision-making roles. They also highlighted the importance of reviewing procurement policies and corporate practices to ensure supplier ecosystems create fair opportunities for women-owned and women-led businesses.
In addition, the conversation examined institutional and cultural conditions that continue to hinder women’s leadership progression, encouraging organisations to critically assess workplace structures, biases, and policies that may unintentionally slow female leadership transition. Speakers underscored the importance of data-driven advocacy and accountability, while encouraging women leaders to challenge stereotypes, champion inclusive strategies, and actively sponsor and support other women
The event also had in attendance Ms. Felicia Obozuwa, Executive Director, Corporate Services at FCMB, alongside other senior leaders from across sectors committed to accelerating gender inclusion. The dialogue concluded with an Action Lab session titled “What Will You Do on Monday?”, where participants identified immediate actions their organisations could implement. These included reviewing leadership succession pipelines, analysing pay and promotion gaps, revisiting procurement and supplier inclusion policies, setting time-bound gender targets, and assigning clear institutional ownership for delivery and accountability.Companies interested in participating in the next cohort of the Target Gender Equality Accelerator can register through the UN Global Compact platform: Register Here