Wednesday July 23, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
Akwa Ibom State First Lady Designate, Lady Helen Eno Obareki has called for a level playing field for women to get to the heights of their careers by breaking societal and cultural stereotypes against them in leadership roles.
She made the advocacy during the 25th Women in Management and Leadership (WIMLEAD) Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Managements held at Watbridge Hotels and Suites, Uyo on Tuesday July 22, 2025.
Represented by the member representing Uruan State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Dr Itoro Etim, the Coordinator stressed that the theme of the WIMLEAD conference “Empowered to Excel: Redefining Leadership, Growth and Balance for Women in a Changing World”, highlights the necessity for men to provide equal opportunities for women to thrive in leadership roles and for women to support each other in their journeys to success.
She emphasised that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, a gender sensitive and responsive Governor, has already begun breaking stereotypes in his administration by appointing women to leadership positions, allowing them to voice their opinions and contribute to building a state to be reckoned with.
In his welcome address, the President and Chairman of Council, the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd)FNIM, stated that the WIMLEAD conference, which has held annually for twenty-five years, provides a platform for women in management and leadership positions in both the private and public sectors to converge, share experiences, discuss and forge the way forward on issues that directly affects them at home and in the workplace.
Commodore Ayuba emphasised the urgent need to dismantle barriers and biases against women in their pursuit to break the glass ceilings, noting that despite the exceptional performance of women in various fields, they still encounter discrimination at the highest levels of many professions.
In her Keynote Address, the Clerk of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs. Nsikak-Abasi Orok expounded on the evolving definition of leadership, stating that leadership has shifted from masculine ideals characterised by dominance, command and power to a focus on collaboration, transformation and compassion.
Mrs. Orok reiterated that women should be allowed to take leadership positions as they bring a unique blend of empathy, strategic foresight, emotional intelligence and resilience as evidenced by the outstanding success of notable women in academia, business, the corporate world, boardrooms and political spheres.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of a memento with the core values of NIM from the President and Chairman of Council of NIM to the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki.
Among the entourage from the Office of the First Lady at the event were: the Special Adviser, Bureau of Cooperatives and Rural Development – Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong, wife of the Head of Civil Service, Akwa Ibom State – Mrs Uduak Essien and the Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Mobilisation – Dr. Ekemini Umoh.
