NIMN’s LeadHers in Marketing Conference 1.0 Empowers Women to Lead Through Innovation and Competence

By Azeez Disu

The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) marked a significant milestone on Friday, 6th March 2026, with the successful launch of its maiden ‘LeadHers in Marketing Conference’. Held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, the event brought together industry titans, policymakers, and emerging professionals under the theme “Redefining Influence: Women Shaping the Future of Marketing”.

The conference was specifically designed as a strategic investment in the profession, aiming to create a dedicated space for female professionals to connect, mentor, and elevate one another. It signals a “new dawn” for the Institute, focusing on inclusion and equality in an era driven by innovation.

Delivering the keynote address, Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment for Lagos State, described the initiative as “not only timely but truly transformational”. She highlighted the profound economic power women wield, noting that they drive between 70 and 80 percent of global consumer purchasing decisions.

“Women are not only participants in the marketplace but powerful architects of demand,” Mrs Ambrose stated. “When the people shaping demand are also shaping the narratives behind brands, industries become more responsive, inclusive, and innovative”. She further emphasised that in Nigeria, women own approximately 40 percent of MSMEs, sustaining the very ecosystem in which commerce thrives.

The President of NIMN, Dr Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, underscored that the platform’s purpose extends beyond networking to fostering genuine leadership capabilities. She stressed that the goal is not to displace men but to ensure women occupy their rightful space through merit and skill.

“The whole idea is not to push men out but for women to occupy their own space,” Dr Bayo-Ajayi remarked. “It’s about ensuring that as a woman you’re not allowing for position of opportunity by virtue of gender, but you’re doing it because you are competent and you’re able to do that”. She challenged participants to see themselves as leaders first, moving beyond functional roles to make a lasting impact on the industry.

The conference also addressed the evolving nature of marketing, which now sits at the intersection of data, technology, and culture. Mrs Ambrose urged women to lead in these emerging fields, noting that “the story of women in marketing is no longer about breaking glass ceilings; it is about designing entirely new skylines of leadership”. She advocated for three critical pillars for future growth: building strong mentorship pipelines, embracing artificial intelligence and data analytics, and amplifying the visibility of female leaders to inspire the next generation.

Echoing this sentiment of progress, Mrs Thelma Okoh, Registrar of NIMN, described the event as an eye-opener designed to change the narrative for women in the marketing ecosystem. She encouraged professionals to remain focused on the value they bring to the table.

“I will encourage women to keep shattering the ceiling and keep making impact in the industry,” Mrs Okoh said. “It’s not about gender, but about bringing value to solving problems and making ourselves more relevant in the space of policy, leadership, and influence”.

The conference concluded with a call to action for all participants to translate the day’s conversations into tangible professional growth. As Lagos continues to serve as Africa’s commercial nerve centre, the LeadHers initiative aligns with the state’s broader vision of an inclusive, innovation-driven economy where talent thrives regardless of gender.