Africa’s progress relies on women holding power –Zewde

Ex Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde

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A former President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, has called for women to attain real positions of authority, insisting that transformative progress on the continent depends on women occupying legislative and executive power.

Zewde made this call in her keynote address at the Inspiring Woman Africa Series 14, held in Lagos on Thursday, under the theme “Leadership Redefined: Charting New Paths to Excellence.”

The PUNCH reports that Zewde was the first woman to become Ethiopian President, serving between 2018 and 2024. Before then, she served as an African diplomat and as a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General.

Speaking at the gathering of women leaders, she declared that “in order to bring substantive change, women have to be in power. That’s the thing. If she doesn’t have the power to legislate, if she doesn’t have the power to execute, it will just remain ticking boxes.” She cautioned that “without a position of power, much cannot be achieved.”

Reflecting on her personal journey, she emphasised the necessity of self-authored narratives. “For a woman, if a woman doesn’t talk about herself, doesn’t tell her story, nobody will. At least, nobody will write about her.”

Recounting her historic role as an ambassador and later as the first African woman to lead a UN peacebuilding mission, she said she entered difficult assignments with one mandate: “I only have one option. It’s to be successful.” She urged women to uplift each other, noting, “It will be a miss for me if I do not address the issue of supporting one another. That’s absolutely important.

We cannot remain silent when we see women suffering everywhere, from the DRC to Sudan and so on. Amplifying voices counts.”

Calling for more women in politics, she asked, “How come when a woman is a candidate, she’s not elected? And when you look at the statistics, the majority of voters are women. We have to support them.”

She closed with a message of limitless ambition: “Anything is possible, and the sky is the limit,” reminding the audience, “I was 37 when I was appointed ambassador for the first time.

And from that time on to now, I’ve been called ‘Your Excellency’.” Zewde told the women that if it had happened for her, then it was possible for them and other women too.

In a speech delivered virtually, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening systems that support women nationwide.

She declared that “women are not just participants in leadership. We are architects of new possibilities.” She said the administration is focused on “strengthening systems, expanding opportunities, and ensuring that gender equality and gender equity become a lived reality across all sectors, particularly women’s economic spaces.”

She highlighted the government’s Social Impact Intervention Programme 774, describing it as “designed to reach every local government area with targeted support, empowerment pathways, and system-strengthening initiatives.”

Calling attention to the ministry’s flagship digital platform, she urged women to utilise the tool fully: “This is a digital flagship innovation and is more than just an application. It is a gateway to verified information, economic prospects, mental health resources, legal guidance, safety resources, community networks, and direct ministry programmes.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim encouraged the audience to “expand our networks, share the knowledge, open doors for one another, and commit to lifting each other as we rise,” stating that “leadership is not merely about action. It’s about transformation, impact, and leaving every space better than we found it.”

The Chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Mrs Angela Emuwa, commenting on the conference theme, said, “First of all, when joining an organisation, a woman should be determined to drive change and become a transformative force. Know who you are, invest in yourself, and prioritise continuous upskilling. Leading with empathy is also very important, true leadership requires understanding others’ perspectives while being firm and decisive.”

She added that a key takeaway from the event was “the importance of perseverance. Don’t give up. As women, we must be persuasive and determined, if you have a goal, stay focused and keep pushing to achieve it.”

Another speaker at the event was the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nova Bank, Chinwe Iloghalu, who spoke about leadership and the transformation of financial services through technology.

She said leaders must understand “the power dynamics, understand the team dynamics… understand the diversity of your team” and also “understand the life stage of the organisation.”

She explained that her current institution is “in a growth stage”, noting that she adjusts her leadership accordingly: “If I’m leading in a growth organisation, I have no problem in getting into the trenches. So, I become transactional, I become a coach, I become a guide, and I become a mentor. So, it’s fluid.”

Describing the evolution of banking, she said that “because of AI, and of course machine learning, and of course developments in technology, the way people consume banking services has considerably changed.” She added that “efficiency rides on technology… speed and efficiency” now define customer expectations.

She explained that AI is central to modern credit and risk decisions: “AI helps us in credit scoring, because some of these decisions, you have to take them in a split second.” She added that predictive analytics enable banks to determine “what products somebody wants in terms of lifestyle offerings.”

Inspiring Woman Africa is a pan-African initiative dedicated to empowering women through platforms that amplify women’s voices, share their stories, and support their professional, personal, and leadership growth. It was founded by multi-award-winning media professional Kemi Ajumobi, with a mission to create inclusive spaces where women can connect, learn, and grow. The organisation operates through a combination of conferences, magazine publications, interviews, training, speaking engagements, and consulting, all aimed at fostering resilience, inclusion, and ingenuity among women across Africa and beyond.

Oluwakemi is a Senior Correspondent with The PUNCH. She has over 10 years experience across digital and traditional journalism spheres, and currently covers the Capital Market.

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