The maiden Women in Leadership Summit 2026 has called for deliberate action to drive inclusive leadership and strengthen economic growth in Nigeria.

The summit, themed ‘Give to Gain: Power, Purpose and the Economics of Inclusive Leadership,’ ended in Lagos after bringing together stakeholders from business, government and development sectors to advance practical discussions on inclusion.

Co-convener and Chairperson of Brooks and Blake, Olufunmi Onajide, urged a shift in leadership practice, stressing the need to embed purpose and representation in decision-making, saying, “We must redefine how leadership is practised by placing purpose and representation at the centre of decision-making.”

In the welcome address delivered by Adenike Alao on behalf of Frank Aigbogun, the organisers highlighted the role of leadership in shaping equitable and sustainable economic systems.

Providing the summit outlook, Mary Iwelumo of PwC Nigeria linked inclusive leadership in the public sector to improved governance and national development.

The panel session titled ‘Power and Policy: Women Shaping Inclusive Economies’ featured Olaniyi Yusuf of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye of the Ford Foundation, among others, who examined governance structures and policy frameworks needed to drive inclusive growth.

Speaking on the economic value of inclusion, Ireti Sam-Ogbu of the Africa Finance Corporation said inclusive leadership strengthens institutions and drives innovation.

She said, “Inclusive leadership strengthens institutions, improves risk management, and drives innovation by leveraging diverse perspectives, while leadership must go beyond profit to define purpose and create long-term value.”

Delivering goodwill messages, Funmi Omotosho, representing Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, called for concrete steps towards inclusion: “We must move inclusion from aspiration to deliberate action as part of our shared commitment to building a more equitable and transformative society.”

Also, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Patience Fakai, who represented Governor Uba Sani, outlined efforts to expand opportunities through policy, asserting, “Sustainable development depends on expanding opportunities for women and young people through deliberate investments in education, financial inclusion and economic empowerment.”

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Women in Leadership Special Publication, designed to promote accountability and cross-sector collaboration.

Presenting the communiqué, Adenike Alao stressed the need to sustain momentum and translate discussions into measurable outcomes.

Reflecting on the summit, Co-convener Ime Enang underscored the importance of shared experiences and mentorship.

He said, “The platform has shown that women’s challenges are not isolated, and sustained progress will depend on mentorship, sponsorship and active collaboration across media, policy and business ecosystems.”

In her closing remarks, Alao noted that the diversity of participants reinforced the summit’s relevance and the need to sustain conversations: “Continued amplification of these conversations will be essential to driving long-term impact.”

The summit concluded with a consensus that inclusive leadership remains critical to building stronger institutions, fostering sustainable economic growth and advancing national development.