The International Women’s day NNEW Ogun state chapter, was held on the 22/3/2025 at Crown fit cafe, off Adigbe Road, Abeokuta, in Ogun state.
The program started at 10:40 am with members and guests in attendance.
The opening prayer was led by Pastor (Mrs)Ojerinde Olayinka. Members and guests made self- introductions and we had women from different business areas ranging from Agribusiness, Fashion and Creativity, Real estate, Hospitality and Education, among other
Our Main speaker was Mrs Edobong Akpabio, the Chairman, NNEW Governing Council. She spoke on this year’s theme “Accelerate Action”. She emphasized the urgency to take action concerning women’s ability to work, inequalities faced by women and many more.
She mentioned that continuous action should be taken against female genital mutilation, stating the sad reality of women being key players in implementation of this cultural and traditional practice that doesn’t align with new realities.
She charged women to take accelerated action in specific areas:
- Self: women need to make more effort in the aspects of their goals, vision, and dreams.
- Accelerate other women: women should support other women and uphold each other through empathy, trust and solidarity.
- Serving other women: The NNEW platform is a platform to serve other women, to celebrate and push women to the top. She charged women not be impediments to other women but to join like minded groups that drive advocacy for women issues.
- She concluded by making this profound call, for women to “Be the ladder of success for other women to follow, remove barriers for other women, accept yourself and be confident. Learn from other women, grow with other people and aim to impact others” Together let us accelerate more action”.
Our GEM, Mrs. Olusola Sowemimo of Ope farms(a.k.a, Sisi mi), also contributed to the speaker’s talk by encouraging women to identify women that have impacted and influenced our lives in our life’s journey and reach out to them, letting them know you appreciate their efforts.
The Chairperson Ogun state chapter delivered her message about the impact of joining the association, giving examples of success stories of women who have joined. She emphasized on the core value of NECA which is POISE.
P= Professionalism, O= Opportunity, I = Integrity, S= Services, E=Excellence.
The treasurer Mrs Fausat, our Chapter’s Supervisor, from National Executive, shared how she joined the association and how she has benefited from other women. She charged women to network, share the issues they are facing with other women and aim to serve others.
The exhibition stand was inspected by the main speakers and members.
The sector and head of sectors were introduced by IPCP.
The following were announced has sector heads:
- Mrs Olawunm Ekundayo, for Education sector
- Mrs Oluwatosin Aishat Issa, for Fashion,textile and garment
- Mrs Adekemi Onatade for Agribusiness
- Mrs Olayinka Ojerinde for Real Estate
- Mrs Abimbola Adeyemi for Hospitality.
The Chapter chose to start out with/revive these five Industry sectors, after identifying skilled players and experts, in those sectors. More sectors will be inaugurated, as we grow and identify more experts.
There was a fun side, of celebrating our first quarter (January -March) Celebrants with a sumptuous cake that was magnanimously donated by our immediate past Chairperson, Mrs Iyabode Oniyide.
Financial report was given by the Financial secretary, Mrs Rukayat Fayomi and it was shared that NNEW will be 20 yrs this year and the women should be anticipating the anniversary program. New members were informed of the statutory membership fees and annual subscription.
The Vice chairperson gave the closing remarks, thanking everyone present for the program and sharing her key takeaways from the program.
The closing prayer was shared by the Head of Sector, Fashion, Textile and garments, Mrs Oluwatosin Aishat Issa.
Nineteen (19) members made the meeting though we planned for 25 persons(at least). Three guests were present and indicated interest to join the network. Meanwhile, three prospects from our last program – “Valentine Special”, become full members through full membership and annual subscription payments.
Feelers from the meeting were very encouraging as it raised the enthusiasm of members to become more committed and proactive while spurring the visitors to belong. The visitors details have been added to our NNEW Ogun state chapter Prospects platform.
The session of the Main Speaker was streamed via zoom, provided by the Secretariat but sadly not recorded, due to exhausted storage.
