The conference convened women leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem builders around a shared purpose: to move African women from potential to power, from visibility to viability, and from ideas to sustainable enterprises, themed Elevate: Building women of vision, influence, and impact. The 360 Woman Africa Annual Conference gathered 1,350 emerging leaders, women in leadership, and women entrepreneurs at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on October 25, 2025.
At the heart of this year’s conference was a defining moment, the award of the ₦10 Million 360 Woman Africa Enterprise Grants to four women-led businesses led by Dr. Yvonne Chioma Ofodile. The grants were not symbolic. They were deliberate, strategic investments designed to strengthen women-owned enterprises, accelerate growth, and enable real economic participation.
The 360 Woman Africa Annual Conference has rapidly emerged as one of Nigeria’s most consequential convenings for women in leadership, enterprise, and social impact. More than a conference, it is a strategic gathering of influence bringing together women who are not only navigating today’s economic realities but actively shaping Africa’s future. This year’s conference has been its 7th gathering, convening a powerful mix of women entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, policymakers, creatives, professionals, and ecosystem builders, all united by a shared objective: to move beyond conversation and into coordinated action.
A Room Designed for Influence
The conference was intentionally curated to reflect the diversity and depth of women’s leadership across sectors. Participants included:
• Founders and CEOs of women-led businesses
• Senior executives and decision-makers
• Emerging entrepreneurs and innovators
• Development practitioners and community leaders
• Young professionals seeking mentorship and scale
The result was a room charged with insight, candour, and ambition, where lived experiences met strategic thinking, and where collaboration replaced competition.
The 7th annual conference hosted global speakers and thought leaders like Fela Durotoye (CEO, GEMSTONE Group), Bunmi Lawson (Director: Edfin Microfinance Bank), Osayi Alile (CEO, Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation), Beatrice Eneh (CEO, Nectar BeautyHub and Founder, Beauty in Motherland), Yvonne Chioma Ofodile (Founder, 360 Woman Africa and MD/CEO, Zetile Oil and Gas Ltd, Zetile Stores Ltd.) The speaker lineup reflected the conference’s commitment to conversations that sparked an all-around elevation for women. Speakers were drawn from business, leadership, finance, personal development, and social impact, each bringing perspectives grounded in real-world execution.
Conversations spanned critical themes, including:
• Building sustainable businesses in volatile economies
• Vision, Leadership, resilience, and ethical decision-making
• Access to capital and financial inclusion for women
• Personal leadership, identity, and confidence
• Scaling impact without losing purpose
What set the sessions apart was their practical relevance. Speakers did not merely inspire; they equipped. Participants left with frameworks, tools, and insights they could immediately apply within their businesses and careers. The 360 Woman Africa Enterprise Fund was created to bridge that gap and offer blended support tools that propagate sustainable enterprises.
The Fund recognises a critical truth: access to finance alone is not enough. Women entrepreneurs also require visibility, credibility, networks, mentorship, and platforms that amplify their stories and scale their impact. The grant recipients are therefore not just beneficiaries, they are partners, ambassadors, and case studies of what is possible when women are trusted with resources and opportunity.
Each recipient business represents more than individual success. They represent job creation, community development, and economic resilience within their ecosystems.
The success of the conference and the grant award signal what is possible when vision meets execution. 360 Woman Africa remains committed to building systems and platforms that enable emerging women leaders, women in leadership, and entrepreneurs to grow holistically, build sustainable businesses, access capital responsibly, and lead with confidence. It is about redefining economic participation, leadership, and impact across Africa, one woman, one business, and one community at a time.
