9th Voice of Women Conference & Awards

9th Voice of Women Conference & Awards (VOW 2025): A National Movement for Collective Action

The 9th edition of the Voice of Women Conference & Awards (VOW 2025) was held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.

This landmark event, convened by Women Radio, marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward gender equity and inclusive governance.

With the theme “Nigerian Women & The Power of Collective Action,” VOW 2025 brought together over 500 delegates including grassroots and urban women, policymakers, civil society leaders, development partners, and thought leaders from across the country and beyond.

VOW 2025 was more than a conference, it was a movement. The gathering served as a rallying point for women across social classes, regions, and sectors to unite in shaping Nigeria’s future.

The event featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, fireside chats, exhibitions, and strategic networking sessions. These engagements were designed to spotlight the transformative power of women supporting women, and to catalyze policies that promote sustainable development and inclusive democracy.

Distinguished guests included Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Deputy President of South Africa and UN Women Executive Director Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Minister of Women Affairs Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, British Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever, and other prominent figures such as Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Sherifat Taleat, Hansatu Adegbite, and Funmilola Paseda Oladoyinbo. Their presence underscored the importance of political will and cross-sector collaboration in advancing gender equality.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering Nigerian women under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He praised the resilience of Nigerian women and emphasized their central role in shaping a future of equity and progress. The Vice President echoed these sentiments, describing women as the backbone of Nigeria’s resilience and pledging continued support for policies that unlock their economic and leadership potential.

A major highlight of the conference was the urgent call for the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, which aims to increase women’s representation in governance. Currently, women occupy less than five percent of seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly, far below the African Union’s target of 50 percent and the global average of 26.5 percent. Advocates like Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi stressed that the bill is not an act of benevolence but a strategic necessity to prevent regression in gender equality.

Convener Toun Okewale Sonaiya described VOW as Nigeria’s largest inclusive platform for government, media, civil society, grassroots organizations, and the private sector. She emphasized that irrespective of political affiliation, economic status, ethnic background, faith, age, ability, or disability, women must support women. Only through collective action can Nigerian women transition from passive participants to decisive forces in governance and leadership.

VOW 2025 was broadcast live across television, radio, and digital platforms, reaching an estimated 15 million viewers and listeners nationwide.

The conference built on the momentum of VOW 2024, which focused on women’s inclusion for a sustainable Nigeria, and set the stage for intensified advocacy ahead of the 2027 elections.

In essence, VOW 2025 was a clarion call for unity, equity, and action. It reaffirmed that when women act together, they become an unstoppable force for justice, progress, and nation-building.