COWLSO: Sanwo-Olu urges women to embrace purposeful leadership

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Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor, has urged women to embrace purposeful leadership, make meaningful contributions to society and build legacies that will benefit future generations.

Sanwo-Olu made the call on Thursday at a press conference to unveil activities for the 26th National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), scheduled for Oct. 26 to Oct. 28.

She said the theme of the 2026 conference, “Anchor for Purpose, Be the Blueprint,” challenged women to reflect on the impact they were making in their families, workplaces, communities and society.

According to her, the theme encourages women to look beyond personal achievements and consider the footprints they leave behind.

“It is a call to live with purpose, make meaningful contributions and ensure that our presence creates value that can outlive us.

“The National Women’s Conference has evolved into a platform for knowledge, empowerment, reflection, networking and inspiration, providing opportunities for women to examine issues affecting their families and communities,” she said.

Sanwo-Olu said the 26th edition would be held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 9 a.m. daily.

She said the conference would be held in a hybrid format to allow both physical and virtual participation.

According to her, physical participation would cost N150,000, with a capacity for 3,000 participants, while virtual participation would cost N50,000, with no limit on the number of participants.

She said registration commenced on Sept. 15 and would close on Oct. 15, adding that interested participants could register through the official conference website.

She said the conference would feature distinguished guests, speakers and participants from various sectors, including government, policymaking, academia, diplomacy, civil society, traditional institutions, professional bodies and women’s organisations.

She said the hybrid format was designed to make the conference as inclusive and accessible as possible, ensuring that distance or physical location would not prevent interested women from participating.

According to her, the programme would feature keynote lectures, presentations, masterclasses, networking sessions and a traditional council gala night.

She said a pre-conference awareness walk, tagged “Blueprint in Motion: From Vision to Action,” would take participants through significant locations in Lagos as part of activities designed to connect purpose and legacy with the history, culture and development of the state.

She said the awareness walk would hold on Oct. 10, describing it as an opportunity to take the message of the conference beyond the venue and into the wider community.

She stressed that the conference was not merely about bringing women together, but about the actions and impact that would follow the gathering.

“The National Women’s Conference has never been merely about gathering women in one place.

“It has always been about what happens after the gathering — the ideas we take home, the relationships we build, the knowledge we share, the lives we touch and the actions we take.

“We are being challenged to reflect on the kind of examples we are setting, the values we are passing on and the impact we are making in the spaces we occupy,” she said.

She expressed appreciation to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, members of COWLSO, partners, speakers, sponsors and volunteers for their support towards the success of the conference.

She said the 26th edition was particularly significant to her as it provided another opportunity to serve, learn and journey with women across different sectors.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the conference’s organising committee, Dr Olayemi Oke-Osanyintolu, welcomed participants and members of the media to the press conference.

Oke-Osanyintolu described the conference as an important platform for women to connect, learn, share experiences and develop practical solutions to issues affecting women, families and society.

She said the 2026 edition had been deliberately designed to move beyond conventional conference sessions by creating opportunities for learning, networking, reflection and practical engagement.

“This year’s conference is profound and intentional. In a world filled with noise and distractions, we are inviting women to become anchored in purpose and to recognise that a life built on purpose cannot easily be shaken.

“We want women to understand that they are not merely following blueprints created by others; they are also creating blueprints for the next generation,” she said.

According to her, the conference would provide women with opportunities to strengthen their leadership capacity, build relationships and translate ideas into actions that would have lasting impact.

She said the conference would feature practical sessions and masterclasses designed to equip participants with knowledge and skills in areas including wealth creation, wellness, competency development and leadership.

She said the objective was to ensure that participants returned to their workplaces, businesses, families and communities with practical knowledge that could be applied beyond the conference.

“This conference will be different. Beyond inspiration, we are bringing practical learning to the table. We want every woman who attends to leave with something she can apply in her career, business, family and community,” she said.

She commended Sanwo-Olu for her leadership and commitment to initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women and families in Lagos State.

The chairperson also appreciated members of COWLSO, partners, sponsors, speakers, volunteers and the media for their contributions to the success of the conference.

She urged women across Lagos and beyond to participate actively in the three-day programme, saying the conference was designed to encourage women to discover their purpose, strengthen their capacity and contribute meaningfully to society.