On the margins of the State Visit of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a distinguished group of leaders gathered in London for a high-level breakfast meeting focused on one of the most critical drivers of global growth — women’s economic empowerment.
Hosted at Raffles London at The OWO, this invitation-only engagement brought together senior figures from government, business, philanthropy, and civil society, creating a powerful platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action.
Anchoring a Moment of Influence
The morning session was anchored by Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL, Co-Founder of the FLAIR Summit, who steered the programme with clarity, purpose, and a deep understanding of the strategic importance of the moment.
“It was both a privilege and a responsibility to steer such a prestigious and purposeful gathering — one that placed women’s economic power firmly at the centre of international dialogue,” she reflected.
A Powerful Coalition of Leadership
The event brought together an exceptional coalition of leadership, including the Rt Hon David Lammy, whose remarks underscored the economic imperative of women’s empowerment.
As highlighted in his address, enabling women to fully participate in the economy is not simply a social priority — it is fundamental to growth, innovation, and long-term prosperity. Attempting to build strong economies without the full participation of women, he noted, would limit progress and potential.
The Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to advancing women’s participation across all sectors, positioning women not at the margins, but at the centre of national development and economic transformation.
Her leadership continues to drive a bold national agenda focused on inclusion, opportunity, and sustainable growth.
Cherie Blair and the Global Imperative
Cherie Blair CBE KC, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, brought a global perspective to the discussion, drawing on years of experience supporting women entrepreneurs across more than 100 countries.
Her message was clear: when women are given access to resources, networks, and opportunity, they do not only transform their own lives — they strengthen economies, communities, and future generations.
The conversation highlighted the persistent barriers women face, from access to capital and markets to structural inequalities — and the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector action to remove them.
SheThrives: A Strategic Partnership for Scale
A central focus of the morning was the SheThrives initiative — a landmark partnership between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.
Designed to empower 10 million women entrepreneurs over three years, SheThrives represents a bold and integrated approach to economic transformation, combining policy leadership, programme delivery, and global expertise.
The initiative reflects a powerful national ambition: that when women thrive, Nigeria thrives — unlocking productivity, innovation, and inclusive prosperity at scale.
Partnership in Action
The event was supported by FLAIR Summit, the Labour Africa Network, and the Osahon Okunbo Foundation, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment through collaboration and strategic partnership.
This convergence of leadership across sectors reinforced a critical message — that meaningful progress requires alignment between government, private sector, and civil society.
From Conversation to Commitment
Beyond the formal programme, the breakfast created space for meaningful engagement among leaders who have both the influence and the responsibility to drive change.
The discussions moved beyond theory — focusing on practical solutions, scalable models, and the conditions required to enable women-led enterprises to succeed.
A Defining Signal
This gathering was more than a high-level meeting — it was a signal of intent.
A signal that women’s economic empowerment is no longer a peripheral issue, but a central pillar of global growth, partnership, and policy.
And a reminder that when leadership aligns with purpose, transformation becomes not only possible — but inevitable.
Because this is not a moment — it is a movement.