Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a non-profit organisation focused on increasing and supporting the success rates of female entrepreneurs and the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organizations and the public service has announced her new Board of Trustees.

This was at its 21st Annual Conference on the theme, ‘Firing Forward, the Future in Focus’ which was held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, November 3 this year.

The BOT comprises 13 members including 11 women. Others are the Head of Marketing and Communications, Access Bank Group, Chioma Afe; Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Aishah Ahmad; Chief Commercial Officer, Meta Africa, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani; and Non-Executive Director, PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Dr Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi.

Among them is Contract Advisor, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Ebisan Akinsanya; CEO, ACT Foundation, Osayi Allie; Director, Google West Africa, Juliet Ehimuan; Branch Head, Quantity Surveying, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (Housing Sector), Dr Celestina Eke-Mni and others.

Earlier during the panel discussion, the speakers outlined the challenges female leaders in public and private services experience.

They also emphasised the need for improved partnerships among stakeholders in the public and private sectors through policy formulation that would champion increased participation of women in leadership roles and governance.

Narrating their growth trajectories, the panellists highlighted the dire need for organisations to design internal mechanisms that provide more windows to spur growth.

According to the speakers, though the ratio of women in corporate governance has substantially increased globally, there must be active and deliberate involvement of all and sundry to realise the goal of inclusivity and women’s participation in politics.

The panellists included CEO/ Founder, Next Narrative Africa, Akunna Cook; the MD, Procter & Gamble Nigeria, Mokutima Ajileye; Ambassador of France to Nigeria & Ecowas, H.E. Emmanuella Blatmann; Country Director, United Kingdom Government Department for International Trade, Ms Chim Chalemera.

Others are the High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Humphrey D. Geiseb; Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Teshome Nkrumah; United States Consul General in Nigeria, H.E Williams Stevens; and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica and Permanent Representative to the International Seabed Authority, and H.E. Maureen Tamuno among others.

In her acceptance speech, Adeyemi appreciated the founders of WIMBIZ for 21 years of sacrifice. This is as she promised to work with the board to move WIMBIZ to the next height and forge a greater future for Nigerian women in all spheres of life.

Adeyemi is an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Eventful Ltd. She is also an astute professional with several years of experience in different sectors.

Her appointment and that of others follow a renewed call for WIMBIZ to galvanise support for increased gender parity and women’s representation in all spheres of human endeavour.