The 9th Annual Conference of the Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ), with the theme: ‘Impact Your World’ is scheduled to hold at the New Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on the 4th  and 5th of November, 2010.

This announcement was made in a statement from the Secretariat signed by the Executive Secretary, Ini Onuk on Monday.  The organisation states that the essence of this year’s theme is to encourage women to move from mere existence to relevance.  In her words, ‘The task of nation building, driving widespread change and even conducting free and fair elections in 2011 lies squarely on the shoulders of women’.  She further reiterated how fundamental the contributions of women have been in Nigeria since independence especially in the corporate and commercial industries.

The speakers scheduled to participate at the conference include Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ACN Presidential Candidate and former EFCC Chairman; Ben Murray Bruce, CON; Chairman, Silverbird Group who will deliver the 2010 Keynote Address; Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue, Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne Cable Company; Tony Rapu, Chairman, Freedom Foundation, Senator Chris Anyanwu and Honourable Funmi Tejuosho on issues ranging from “Everyday people impacting their World”, “From Success to Significance”, “Investments, SME financing, Taxation” and “Raising Children in a Difficult World”.   The Conference Chairperson is Hon. Justice Fati Abubakar.

This conference comes on the heels of a hugely successful stakeholders’ forum organised by WIMBIZ with the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN and other Executives of the State in attendance.  Governor Fashola was the Keynote Speaker at the 2009 WIMBIZ Conference where he charged the women on the theme ‘Change the game and make a difference’.  The Trustees and Members of the organisation engaged the Governor on challenges of doing business in Lagos State.  

WIMBIZ has just completed the maiden phase of her Mentoring Program as promised, where 72 young women were attached to mentors for a period of four months in two batches.  The model was taken from the Vital Voices Foundation Program for Women, pioneered by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

WIMBIZ Annual Conferences have become a reference point as an important gathering of the nation’s most powerful women in commerce and corporate Nigeria attracting international delegates from the world’s most influential corporations. Ini Onuk, WIMBIZ Executive Secretary stresses that, ‘the conference is timely and helps empower women to make the best of their careers and personal lives.’

The current Chairperson of the WIMBIZ Board, Yewande Zaccheaus, whilst encouraging women at all levels of business and the corporate world to attend as the conference theme as well as the quality of conference speakers lined up portend for an excellent outing, noted that the stimulating and vibrant discussions usually result in many women taking life changing decisions to move their personal, business or corporate lives to a new and improved level.  Indeed, she added, this flagship event of the organisation clearly supports the vision of WIMBIZ which is to be the catalyst that elevates the profile of women in management and business.

Other activities lined up for the 2-day event include a Debate on the topic: “Do I have to be in polictics to make a difference?”  A gala night with the theme “Jewels of Africa”, will also be held and participants will be entertained to great music, a fashion show by Tiffany Amber and a raffle draw with the opportunity of winning exciting prizes. 

ABOUT WIMBIZ:

Women in Management & Business (WIMBIZ), is a non-profit organisation started in 2oo1 by 14 individuals (13women and 1man) with a simple mission to be the catalyst that elevates the profile of women in management and business.  WIMBIZ is the Nigerian Hub of the African Businesswomen’s Network (ABWM); the continental umbrella organisation for women.

Registrations for the conference can be made via the website: www.wimbiz.org.