How women leaders build influence, navigate transitions, and get seen

Dr. Aisha Yahaya Ndanitsa is an economist and researcher examining why women's labour force participation in Sub-Saharan Africa does not translate into income mobility and the structural conditions that determine whether it ever will.

She is the originator of the Participation–Earnings Gap Framework, a diagnostic and measurement system that challenges the dominant assumption that training and participation alone lead to economic advancement for women.

Her flagship research, The Participation–Earnings Gap Report 2026, presents a critical finding: Nigeria and Ghana maintain near-identical working poverty rates despite a 28-percentage-point gap in female labour force participation. The implication is clear: market structure, not women's individual effort or characteristics, is the binding constraint.

Her work informs governments, development organizations, financial institutions, and implementing partners designing interventions that must deliver measurable income mobility ,not just increased participation  for women.

Dr. Mebhor Adeniji is an experienced Head of Development with a demonstrated history of working across the information technology, oil servicing, and consulting industries.


She is skilled in business process, negotiation, human resources, management, and requirements analysis  a rare combination of technical, operational, and people leadership capabilities.

Her career spans multiple sectors, giving her a unique perspective on how to navigate transitions, build credibility in new environments, and position oneself for opportunities across industries.

With over 15 years of experience, Ibilola is a qualified lawyer turned communications specialist. She has led projects and produced creative multi-channel media campaigns that contribute to maintaining the outstanding reputations of global institutions and governments.


She has extensive experience driving impactful communication strategies for development programmes, high-profile government initiatives, and policies addressing financial inclusion, renewable energy, health, climate, technology, social safety nets, and sustainable livelihoods.


At Sustainable Energy For All (SEforALL) , Ibilola designed and led the communications for Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan. She similarly led stakeholder engagement and cultivated strategic partnerships to amplify the necessity and impact of energy transition initiatives.


Before SEforALL, Ibilola was appointed to lead the Digital Media Office for Nigeria's Vice-President, Yemi Osinbayo.


Before her appointment, she led the Communications, Central Information, and Data powerhouse for the Job Creation Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria (N-Power) , which paid out over $500 million to 500,000 Nigerians between 2016 and 2019.


Ibilola has also led strategic and crisis communications for Nigeria's Electricity Regulator, as well as social impact communications for three of Nigeria's Social Investment Programmes.


Ibilola sits on the Board of the Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN) and SHE Foundation. She is also a passionate advocate for women, the vulnerable, climate action, and a fair and just energy transition in Nigeria and Africa.

Ibukun Omololu is Gender Expert and Principal Consultant of The Teal Tree Company, a gender consulting
firm focused on closing gender gaps and driving socio-economic development across communities and
nations. With over 18 years of experience, she has led impactful projects globally, including initiatives for
women in agriculture and business, promoting financial education and inclusion that has benefited over
6,000 women and multiple organisations across Africa and globally. Her expertise spans consulting,
advisory, and capacity-building for development agencies, private sector organisations and financial
institutions.
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She has contributed (and continues to contribute) to initiatives such as the Flourish Africa Foundation
One Billion Naira Fund, Aceli Global Gender Lens Investing Fellowship for East African Lenders,
Acumen Gender Accelerator Program for women-led businesses across Africa; championed the
launch of the Bloom Women Network at Sterling Bank in 2019; trained over 800 women in financial
literacy through the Cherie Blair Foundation’s Road2Growth project; and engaged with the Central
Bank of Nigeria on financial inclusion frameworks, among other projects.
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Ibukun is a nominee for the 2021 Trailblazers Award by Strategic African Women in Leadership (SAWIL), an
alumna and facilitator for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) - a White House/Department of
State initiative, and a member of the pioneer cohort of the Vital Voices Leadership Journey. Additionally, she
is a 2022 Techsters Alumna and was recognized as one of The Peak Performing Women of the Year 2024 –
TPP Admirable Women in Leadership.
A sought-after speaker and published author of three books, she is passionate about advancing women’s
leadership, inclusive workplaces and socio-economic development.