Women leaders urged to step up, build legacies

Africa’s rising women leaders have been urged to deliberately combine ambition with visibility, as senior executives and industry leaders gathered in Lagos for the 6th Ascent Club Top 100 Career Women in Africa Awards & Gala, a platform that this year placed strong emphasis on legacy-building and institutional impact.

Held under the theme ‘Power, Presence & Prestige’, the event brought together leading female professionals across banking, energy, telecommunications, and development sectors, with speakers warning that professional excellence without visibility risks limiting long-term influence and access to opportunity.

Founder of the Ascent Club, Dr Glory Edozien, delivered a stirring keynote address that systematically dismantled the comforting but costly myth that hard work alone is enough to secure a seat at the table. She reframed the gathering not merely as a celebration but as a correction of who gets visibility. “Impact without visibility becomes influence that expires. We have built careers, led teams, and made an impact, but we have not achieved the visibility that matches our contributions.

Visibility is not vanity. Visibility is not noise. Visibility is power. It determines who gets opportunities, who gets funded, and who gets remembered. The women shaping Africa’s future must never be invisible in its story.”

Financial Controller at FirstBank Nigeria, Mrs Yemi Adesanya, urged the honourees to shift their gaze from personal performance to institutional legacy. Performance fades, she argued, but a well-designed system with embedded values and a leadership pipeline can regenerate influence across generations.

A key change in this year’s edition was the launch of the Next Gen List, supported by FirstBank, which recognised 26 women under the age of 35. The initiative showed that the Ascent Club is not only celebrating established executives but also actively developing the next generation of leaders.

This focus on passing the baton was further explored in a panel discussion moderated by Victoria Ndu, Lead, CSR at Airtel Nigeria, and featuring Lois Nweke, Corporate Affairs Specialist at Nestlé; Chinenye Adeleye, Learning & Development Manager at Jobberman Nigeria; and Enitan Oyenuga, Group Head of Human Resources at FCMB Group. The discussion moved from practical tips on navigating corporate environments to a stronger call for senior leaders to give rising talent more visible opportunities, not just behind-the-scenes mentorship.

Joint Venture Asset Manager at Shell, Mrs Adanma Uduanochie, took the argument a step further. She insisted that women must stop waiting for invitations to decision-making tables and instead build the networks that force those doors open. “Courageous leadership means occupying spaces where budgets are approved and strategies are set,” she said, noting that strong professional alliances multiply a woman’s chances of landing executive roles.

Executive Vice President, Business Services at NNPC Ltd, Mrs Sophie Mbakwe, added a practical layer by challenging women to own their career trajectories completely. She pointed to the “Women in NNPC Initiative” as a model for how corporate institutions can deliberately engineer mentorship and leadership readiness rather than leaving it to chance.

The evening peaked with the presentation of certificates to the top 100 honourees, a moment underscored by the presence of a distinguished judging panel comprising Osayi Alile, Chief Executive Officer of ACT Foundation; Funke Amobi, Head of People & Culture at Stanbic IBTC Holdings; and Tewa Onasanya, Founder of Exquisite Magazine and the ELOY Awards.

Another highlight was the unveiling of Ascent Magazine 2026, marked by sparklers and an onstage conversation with the cover star, Onyeka Michael-Ugwu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hello Perfect.

Michael-Ugwu’s rise from behind-the-scenes operator to public figure reflected the central message of the event: that visibility, when intentionally embraced, can transform individual careers and entire industries. This event was supported by FirstBank, NNPC Ltd, Shell, MTN, and Pernod Ricard.