Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, has urged business leaders across Africa to increase women’s representation in corporate leadership, calling for more appointments and opportunities for women to lead businesses and institutions.
Elumelu made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 25th annual conference of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) in Lagos on November 6, 2026.
He challenged corporate leaders to move beyond conversations about gender inclusion and demonstrate their commitment by creating leadership opportunities, improving women’s access to capital and appointing more women to executive positions.
“Women’s economic leadership is not a concession to fairness. It is a requirement for competitiveness,” Elumelu said.
According to a statement issued by Heirs Holdings on November 8, Elumelu highlighted the eight women serving as chairpersons and chief executives across the group’s businesses as an example of the importance of providing women with opportunities to lead.
He said African businesses needed to recognise the contributions of women and ensure that qualified female professionals had access to positions where they could influence corporate decisions and economic outcomes.
Elumelu also highlighted the role of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in supporting female entrepreneurship, noting that the foundation had funded 13,360 African female entrepreneurs.
He urged women to pursue leadership opportunities, build businesses and take up positions of influence in the private sector.
The WIMBIZ conference, which marked the organisation’s 25th anniversary, was held on November 5 and 6 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Themed “Rooted, Rising, Ready: Born in Africa, Built for the World,” the conference brought together business leaders, professionals and policymakers to discuss women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and Africa’s economic opportunities.
