Abuja – The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, has called on young Nigerian women to actively participate in politics and pursue careers in public service. She emphasized that the Tinubu-led administration is dedicated to empowering young women and breaking barriers to their inclusion in governance.
Abiola made these remarks at the Beyond Boundaries Young Women’s Leadership Conference, organized by Beyond Boundaries in partnership with her office. The event, held at the Presidential Banquet Hall last Thursday in Abuja, brought together young women leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss pathways to leadership and societal impact.
In her welcome address, Abiola stressed the importance of moving beyond advocacy to occupying strategic positions where young women can drive tangible change.
“Young women’s advocacy is rooted in passion, clarity, and courage. From education equity to climate justice, from gender equity to public health, young women globally have continuously advocated for change. True power emerges when advocacy evolves into tangible, effective action; and when young women occupy a seat at the table and effect meaningful change,” she said.
She also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing the inclusion of young women in governance, noting that his administration is committed to addressing challenges such as limited access to resources, cultural stereotypes, and systemic inequalities.
“I would want to sincerely appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being that leader who has prioritized not only women’s inclusion in governance from a general perspective, but young women’s inclusion specifically. This administration is aware of the challenges that young women leaders face—limited access to resources, cultural stereotypes, and systemic inequalities. These barriers persistently threaten our efforts and ambitions, and the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is resolute in its commitment to dismantling these barriers through education, mentorship, policies, and genuine community support,” she stated.
Providing background on the initiative, Abiola explained that the conference, which debuted in 2024, seeks to explore the intersection of youth development and women’s empowerment. She thanked Beyond Boundaries, the headline sponsor of this year’s edition, for their efforts in organizing the event.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Beyond Boundaries Young Women’s Leadership Conference, YWLC 2025. This journey began with the maiden edition in 2024, as we sought to explore the convergence between gender mainstreaming and leadership development for young people. I would like to sincerely thank our headline sponsor, Beyond Boundaries—founded by Ms. Olu Olufemi-White—for the immense effort that has gone into organizing this year’s event,” she said.
Abiola urged leaders and stakeholders to support young women by amplifying their voices, providing mentorship, and investing in their initiatives. She also encouraged young women to consider careers in public service to influence policies and contribute to nation-building.
“Let this be our collective call to action. Support young women’s voices by amplifying them. Mentor young leaders by sharing knowledge. Invest in their initiatives with time, resources, and faith. I would like to encourage you to also consider careers in public service, as there is so much that we can do by influencing policies and designing government initiatives that will shape the future of our country and impact others like us,” she added.
The conference featured high-profile speakers, including the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; the Minister for Women Affairs, Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim; and the Minister for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. Other notable attendees included Owen Omogiafo, Group CEO of Transcorp; Olu Olufemi-White, entrepreneur and founder of Beyond Boundaries; Banke Meshida-Lawal, pioneer beauty entrepreneur; Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, leading tech entrepreneur; Abba Bello, MD of NEXIM Bank; Julaina Olayinka, London Bureau Chief for Channels Television; and Teniola Apata, a celebrated music artist.
The event was supported by organizations such as Matrix Energy, Parthian Partners, MacArthur Foundation, WRAPA, NASENI, Dangote Foundation, NEXIM Bank, Jaiz Bank, and NIPOST, among others. Key discussion themes at this year’s conference included Financial Inclusion, Digital Literacy, and Leadership Representation.
