Lagos: TEXEM, a UK-based executive development organisation, is celebrating International Women’s Day with a call for greater investment in women’s leadership, describing it as a strategic imperative for stronger institutions, better governance, and sustainable national development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, TEXEM stated that the increasing influence of women in boardrooms, parliaments, financial institutions, and civic organisations is a defining force in shaping the future of leadership. The organisation highlighted that recent research in Harvard Business Review supports the investment in women leaders, indicating that leadership teams with more female representation often experience sharper strategic debates, stronger innovation outcomes, deeper accountability, and more resilient organisational cultures.
TEXEM emphasised that evidence shows when women lead, institutions gain. Companies benefit from improved performance and broader market insight, governments experience stronger policy design and citizen trust, and civil society organisations see more inclusive problem-solving and greater social impact.
Dr. Alim Abubakre, TEXEM Founder, noted that empowering women with strategic insight and ethical grounding has consequences beyond representation. Institutions become wiser, societies stronger, and progress accelerates when women lead with clarity and courage.
TEXEM’s alumni network demonstrates this reality, with women leaders translating executive learning into measurable value for their organisations and communities. Recognised individuals include Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation; Chinwe Iloghalu, Acting Managing Director and CEO of Nova Bank; Tonye Ukpong, Managing Director of Total Health Trust Limited; and Bolanle Hajara, a Director at the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Other notable leaders include Busola Abidakun, Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Government; Sunkanmi Oyegbola, Permanent Secretary at the Public Service Office of Lagos State; Sen. Idiat Adebule, representing Lagos West Senatorial District; and Nkem Egboma, former CFO at 9mobile and current strategic expert at Seplat Energy.
The organisation also celebrated Chidinma Ezechukwu of Rex Insurance, Yomi Otaigbe of Channels Television, Comfort Akinbode of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Salome Danjuma of The Wheatbaker Hotel for their contributions to their respective fields.
TEXEM highlighted that these women exemplify how expertise and strategic insight can be translated into meaningful impact across various sectors. The organisation stressed the importance of continuous leadership development, noting that its programmes challenge executives to rethink strategy and lead with courage.
The organisation concluded that investing in women’s leadership is about strengthening governance systems, unlocking innovation, and building institutions capable of navigating complexity. TEXEM urged that International Women’s Day should serve as a reminder that the future of organisations and nations depends on leaders who combine competence with conscience and vision with disciplined execution.
The achievements of TEXEM’s alumni demonstrate that stronger institutions and more prosperous societies are already being shaped by women who lead with wisdom and purpose. Their stories offer a timely lesson for decision-makers that when women rise into leadership, societies move forward.