Abosede Goerge-Ogan, Founder and Executive Director of the Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN Global), has urged the Nigerian government to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete, decisive steps to address the glaring under-representation of women in leadership positions.
Speaking in a recent interview on Channels Television, George-Ogan called for the urgent passage of an affirmative action law, the full implementation of the 2006 National Gender Policy (which recommends 35% women in appointed positions), and genuine investment in leadership development programmes.
She cited Kwara and Ekiti states as examples where political will has produced visible progress, stressing that real change demands courage from political leaders and the adoption of gender-responsive budgeting to ensure public resources directly benefit women.
The Power of Partnerships and Future Vision
George-Ogan attributed WILLEN’s achievements to strong strategic partnerships, including support from the Gates Foundation and active collaboration through the Women in Leadership Coalition, which includes the Nigeria Governors Forum.
Looking ahead, the organisation is developing a comprehensive digital suite, including the Bird App for tracking women’s leadership journeys, and has launched the WILLEN Institute to scale leadership training across Africa. The goal is to position women as key drivers of the continent’s transformation.
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Inspirational Message to Young Girls
Addressing young girls aspiring to leadership, George-Ogan offered heartfelt advice drawn from her experience raising her own daughters:
“Wake up every day and look in the mirror and say to yourself: ‘I can be a better version of myself today than I was yesterday.’ We are not chasing perfection — we are becoming.”
Policy Influencing and Systemic Change
Working in coalition with other stakeholders, WILLEN is actively pushing for legislative reforms, including the Reserved Seats Bill for women in parliament. The organisation recently launched Nigeria’s first State of Women’s Leadership Report and Dashboard, providing transparent, data-driven insights into women’s representation across sectors and states.
