The First Lady of Lagos State and Chairperson of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has announced that the 26th National Women Conference will take place in Lagos from October 26 to 28. The conference, themed "Anchored for Purpose: Be the Blueprint," will be held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, with both physical and virtual participation. The event aims to bring together women from different sectors and walks of life for three days of conversations on purpose, leadership, empowerment, and legacy.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his Ekiti State counterpart, Biodun Oyebanji, have been invited as Special Guests of Honour for the opening and closing ceremonies respectively. According to Dr. Sanwo-Olu, the decision to invite the two governors reflects the growing national reach of the conference and its increasing recognition as a platform for advancing the development and empowerment of women. The participation of the two governors will also underscore the importance of national collaboration in addressing issues affecting women, families, and communities.
The conference is expected to attract government officials, policymakers, professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, development practitioners, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, young women, and women's groups. The three-day programme will feature an opening ceremony and keynote lectures on the first day, further lectures and presentations on the second day, alongside the traditional COWLSO Gala Night. The final day will feature the closing ceremony, providing participants with an opportunity to reflect on the lessons and commitments arising from the conference.
A pre-conference walk themed "Blueprint in Motion: From Vision to Action" will take participants through notable locations across Lagos Island, including Tafawa Balewa Square, the National Museum, Tinubu Square, MUSON Centre, Eko Atlantic, and the Palace of the Oba of Lagos. The walk is intended to connect the conference's message of purpose and legacy with the history, culture, and development of Lagos. COWLSO will also pay courtesy visits to prominent senior women in Lagos, including Mrs A.Y. Oyediran Kakawa, Erelu Dosumu, and Mrs Bintu Tinubu.
An awareness walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, as part of activities designed to take the conference's message beyond the venue and into the wider community. The conference will be conducted in a hybrid format to enable participants who cannot attend physically to join virtually. Physical participation is pegged at N150,000, with space for 3,000 participants, while virtual participation costs N50,000 with no limit on attendance. Registration commenced on September 15 and is scheduled to close on October 15, while late physical registration will attract an additional N15,000.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu urged women across Nigeria and beyond to participate in the conference, saying its ultimate value would be measured by what participants do with the knowledge, relationships, and ideas generated. She said the conference was designed to encourage women to move "from vision to action, from intention to impact" and to leave the spaces they occupy better than they found them. The 2026 edition is the 26th National Women Conference and the eighth to be held under the administration of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
This year's theme was designed to challenge women to recognise the responsibilities that accompany influence, opportunity, and leadership. Dr. Sanwo-Olu explained that being "the blueprint" means creating examples, values, and structures that can positively influence families, workplaces, communities, and future generations. She said only five participants would be accommodated physically from each ministry, department, and agency, while virtual participation would remain open.
Key points
- The 26th National Women Conference of COWLSO will hold in Lagos from October 26 to 28.
- Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, are the Special Guests of Honour.
- The conference will feature physical and virtual participation, with a hybrid format to enable participants to join from anywhere.
