WIMBIZ at 25: Anniversary Puts Women’s Leadership and Business Support Back on the Agenda

Women in Management, Business and Public Service is marking 25 years with a renewed focus on leadership, enterprise and economic opportunity. The organisation used an October 13 press conference in Lagos to unveil its anniversary identity and outline priorities around its annual conference.

In the announcement carried by BellaNaija, WIMBIZ names corporate-governance professional Bennedikter China Molokwu as chairperson of the 25th annual conference. The event brought founders, trustees and planning representatives together to discuss the next stage of the organisation’s work.

An anniversary is a natural moment for an institution to look back. Its wider usefulness depends on whether that reflection helps clarify what support members and future participants can actually access.

For a woman running a growing business, “networking” can mean very different things. It may provide a useful introduction, a trusted sounding board or a better understanding of how another founder handled a difficult decision. It is less helpful when it ends with exchanging contacts and no clear next step.

Turning attendance into something practical

Before attending a professional event, identify one question that matters to the business now. It might concern recruitment, cash flow, governance or the process of approaching a potential partner. That gives conversations a useful direction without making every interaction a sales pitch.

Afterwards, record the information worth testing and follow up with people whose work genuinely connects with it. A short, specific message is easier to respond to than a vague request to “collaborate”.

Leadership programmes also deserve clear expectations. Prospective participants should know the format, eligibility, costs and intended outcomes. An organisation’s longevity is relevant context, but it does not replace reading the details of a particular opportunity.

The same applies to business claims made at an event. A promising idea should be investigated on its merits, not accepted simply because it was presented on a prestigious stage.

WIMBIZ’s anniversary draws attention to the institutions that help professional communities remain connected across generations. The important next question is how that connection becomes useful access: to knowledge, responsibilities, partnerships and opportunities that can be sustained after the celebration.