True impact is measured not just by individual success, but by the strength of the communities we lift as we climb. This year, the global community united under the International Women’s Day theme: "Give to Gain." It is a call to recognize that when we invest our time, resources, and mentorship into women and underserved communities, the entire global economy gains.

To close out March, the IFC Grow Learn Connect program invites you to a high-level webinar that turns this theme from a celebration into a concrete action plan. Join our distinguished panel of Nigerian leaders as they share how they have turned the "Give to Gain" philosophy into measurable impact across the West African market.

This webinar brings together visionary leaders from the fields of business development, environmental sustainability, and public policy to discuss how empowering others creates a ripple effect of economic and social prosperity.

What This Session Will Deliver

• How to transition from passive charity to intentional social and economic investment.
• Insights into transformative programs that boost market share and profit for women entrepreneurs.
• Addressing the funding, policy, and representation gaps currently hindering inclusive growth.
• Learning from the successful empowerment models used by our panelists in Nigeria and beyond.
• Facilitating new connections between the creative industries, sustainability advocates, and global policy leaders.
• Every attendee will be challenged to commit to giving - whether through mentorship or resources - to at least one woman-led initiative in their network.

MODERATOR

Dr. Nneka Okekearu is a distinguished business development specialist with over 25 years of experience designing and delivering transformative programs that boost leadership and management skills—especially for women entrepreneurs. Holding a doctorate in Entrepreneurship with a focus on gender dynamics, she serves as the Director of the Enterprise Development Centre at Pan-Atlantic University. She is a member of the University’s Management Council. As an IFC-certified master trainer and assessor, she spearheads initiatives to certify business development specialists across Nigeria, while also serving as a certified leadership instructor and accredited online facilitator.

Her strategic leadership spans prominent initiatives, including Mastercard Foundation's Transforming Nigerian Youth program, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women's Road to Growth Program, and the World Bank’s WomenX Program. A passionate advocate for gender mainstreaming and mentorship, Dr. Okekearu has guided over 300 business leaders to significantly enhance their revenues, profit margins, and market share. Additionally, her research in business ethics, women’s entrepreneurship, sustainability, and leadership complements her roles on several prestigious boards and affiliations with professional bodies.

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH DR. NNEKA OKEKEARU

PANELISTS

Dr. Alexander Akhigbe is a sustainability leader and development practitioner with over 15 years of experience advancing environmental sustainability, the circular economy, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa. 

He is the Founder of the African Clean Up Initiative (ACI), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable waste management and raising environmentally responsible citizens. Under his leadership, ACI has implemented environmental awareness and cleanup projects across Nigeria and has convened the Africa Cleanup Conference and Awards. 

In 2018, he pioneered the RecyclesPay Educational Project, an innovative circular-economy initiative that enables parents in low-income communities to pay school fees with recyclable materials. 

Dr. Akhigbe also leads Green Sustainable Solutions, a social enterprise advancing circular economy solutions and incentive-based recycling. He convenes the Women SDG Advocates Conference and chairs the Nigeria CSO Strategy Group on SDGs under the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs. 

Hauwa Liman currently serves as the Technical Adviser to the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact. She is a highly accomplished youth development strategist and practitioner with over a decade of experience advancing inclusive development, empowering underserved communities, and driving youth-centered policy and programmatic interventions. 

Hauwa holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's degree in Development Studies from Bayero University, Kano. As a Commonwealth Scholar, she earned a second Master's degree in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS University of London. Her professional training includes executive certifications from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford. 

She is the Founder of the Inspire for Impact Initiative, an award-winning women- and youth-focused organization committed to human capital development and economic empowerment. In 2016, she was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow. In 2017, she was named one of the Top 50 Emerging Global Policy Leaders by the British Council. She is currently the Convener of the Youth Opportunity Summit under the Office of the Vice President, which has directly impacted over 15,196 youth across 7 states and 4 regions in Nigeria.  

Yetunde Akande, CEO and founder of Yetroselane Fashion Hub, champions empowerment and sustainability in the fashion industry. Her company offers a contemporary womenswear line and a Fashion Academy for aspiring entrepreneurs, while promoting sustainable practices through a zero-waste production approach. 

Yetunde has collaborated with notable organizations such as the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, UNDP, Lagos Business School through the Bank of Industry, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, FRED, and GCC, Enterprise Development Center, Pan-Atlantic University, providing training and empowerment to youth. 

Her work has garnered multiple awards, including "Under 30 Best Fashion Designer", "Designer of the Year", and "Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year", amongst others. Her designs have graced international runways such as Emerge New York Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Ghana, among others. Yetunde also mentors entrepreneurs through programs like WIMBIZ, AWE, and GAIN, etc. and is an alumna of the London College of Fashion. Her ultimate goal is to foster employment and successful fashion ventures, creating new opportunities in the industry. 

This free webinar is presented by the IFC Grow Learn Connect program, which was implemented in partnership with the Government of Luxembourg.

Photo by Celine Ly on Unsplash