Abuja, Nigeria – The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, has passionately called upon young Nigerian women to actively participate in politics and pursue careers within the public sector. Speaking at the Beyond Boundaries Young Women’s Leadership Conference, she emphasized the significant impact young women can have when they transition from advocacy to holding strategic positions of influence.
Ms. Abiola made this compelling appeal at the conference organized by Beyond Boundaries in collaboration with her office. The event, held last Thursday at the prestigious Presidential Banquet Hall in Abuja, brought together aspiring young women leaders and prominent figures from various sectors.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Abiola underscored the critical need for young women to move beyond mere advocacy and step into roles where they can directly shape policy and drive impactful change. “Young women’s advocacy is rooted in passion, clarity, and courage. From education equity to climate justice, from gender equity to public health, young women globally have continuously advocated for change. True power emerges when advocacy evolves into tangible, effective action; and when young women occupy a seat at the table and effect meaningful change.”
She also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the inclusion of young women in governance. Ms. Abiola affirmed that the Renewed Hope administration is fully aware of the unique challenges faced by young women leaders and is dedicated to addressing them. “I would want to sincerely appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being that leader who has prioritized not only women’s inclusion in governance from a general perspective, but young women’s inclusion specifically. This administration is aware of the challenges that young women leaders face— limited access to resources, cultural stereotypes, and systemic inequalities. These barriers persistently threaten our efforts and ambitions, and the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is resolute in its commitment to dismantling these barriers through education, mentorship, policies, and genuine community support.”
Providing context to the initiative, Ms. Abiola explained that the Young Women’s Leadership Conference was launched in 2024 with the aim of exploring the interconnectedness of youth development and women’s empowerment.
She also expressed her gratitude to Beyond Boundaries, the headline sponsor for the 2025 edition, and its founder, Ms. Olu Olufemi-White, for their dedicated efforts in organizing the impactful conference. “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Beyond Boundaries Young Women’s Leadership Conference, YWLC 2025. This journey began with the maiden edition in 2024, as we sought to explore the convergence between gender mainstreaming and leadership development for young people. I would like to sincerely thank our headline sponsor, Beyond Boundaries – founded by Ms. Olu Olufemi-White – for the immense effort that has gone into organizing this year’s event”, she stated.
Furthermore, Ms. Abiola urged leaders and stakeholders across society to actively support the growth and empowerment of young women. She specifically encouraged young women to consider pursuing careers in public service, highlighting the significant opportunity to influence policies and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development. “Let this be our collective call to action. Support young women’s voices by amplifying them. Mentor young leaders by sharing knowledge. Invest in their initiatives with time, resources, and faith. I would like to encourage you to also consider careers in public service, as there is so much that we can do by influencing policies and designing government initiatives that will shape the future of our country and impact others like us.”
The conference featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; the Minister for Women Affairs, Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim; and the Minister for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. Other prominent figures from the private and public sectors who shared their insights included Owen Omogiafo, the Group CEO of Transcorp; Olu Olufemi-White, entrepreneur and founder of Beyond Boundaries; Banke Meshida-Lawal, a pioneering beauty entrepreneur; Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, a leading tech entrepreneur; Abba Bello, the MD of NEXIM Bank; Julaina Olayinka, the London Bureau Chief for Channels Television; and Teniola Apata, a renowned music artist.
The impactful event also garnered support from various organizations, including Matrix Energy, Parthian Partners, MacArthur Foundation, WRAPA, NASENI, Dangote Foundation, NEXIM Bank, Jaiz Bank, and NIPOST, among others. This year’s discussions centered on crucial themes such as Financial Inclusion, Digital Literacy, and Leadership Representation, aiming to equip young women with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in leadership roles.
