Bola Matel-Okoh to Host The Executive Woman Summit in Lagos: ‘A Call for Authentic Leadership in Africa’

A new kind of leadership will take centre stage as The Executive Woman Summit (TEWS), a full-day event challenging the notion that women must conform to traditional models to succeed, will be hosted in Victoria Island, Lagos, on October 8, 2025.

Convened by legal and executive leadership trailblazer, Bola Matel-Okoh, the summit is built around a single, powerful theme: ‘Leading from Within: An Authentic Approach to Leadership’.
According to the organisers, “The Executive Woman Summit is a deliberate fusion of strategy and soul, designed to address a critical paradox in the African leadership landscape.

“While women are making strides, they still face a significant glass ceiling. UN Women reports that women hold just 27 percent of parliamentary seats in sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, a McKinsey study shows that in Nigeria’s financial sector, women occupy 47 percent of entry-level roles but only 28 percent reach the C-suite.”

They added that despite Nigeria’s slight edge with 10 percent of top firms led by female CEOs, the overall numbers highlight a systemic problem: women are rising, but not remaining.”

Bola Matel-Okoh stated that: “Africa cannot afford leadership that burns bright and burns out. Our task is to design systems that enable executive women not only to rise but also to remain at the highest levels of leadership. Authenticity is not a soft skill. It is a hard strategy.”

Through her work with BMO Advisory Services and the Women’s Lifestyle Hub, Matel-Okoh has a proven track record of mentoring over 250 women, and TEWS is a platform to scale that impact. The summit creates a space where women can connect and thrive without losing their core identity.
Matel-Okoh said she believes that when women lead from within, they align resilience with results, “and this drives long-term institutional impact.”

The event, designed to be as dynamic as the women it serves, will feature candid fireside chats, sharp keynote talks, and panels that blend strategic insight with joy and balance.

The event lines up powerful speakers featuring former Second Lady of Nigeria, Dolapo Osinbajo, and Ibukun Awosika, founder of The Chair Centre Group. They are joined by a roster of leaders from finance, law, media, and tech, including: Oluyemisi Edun, Managing Director of FCMB; Joke Bakare, Founder and Managing Director of MedPlus Pharmacy; Binta Max-Gbinije, CEO of BMG SEVEN; Osayi Alile, CEO of ACT Foundation; Feranmi Owolabi, Head of Purple Academy at Wema Bank; Yewande Zaccheaus, Founder and Chairperson, Eventful Limited; Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager for West Africa at Mastercard; Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh, Head of External Communications, Media and Partnerships, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa; Chinwe Bode-Akinwande – Head of Sponsorships, Events and Collaboration. First Bank, and Ayo Anibaba – Executive Director and Deputy Managing Director, Sweet Sensation Confectionery.
With in-person tickets and virtual passes available, the organisers said the summit is a truly pan-African movement, ensuring that every woman has a seat at the table, adding that “the future of leadership is taking shape, and it’s being led from within.

“Visit bolamatelokoh.com/tews to register, secure your place at this transformative event, and join a community of influential leaders poised to shape the future.”