SOWSHE-A to hold inaugural African Women in Safety Confab, Awards

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Society of Women in Safety, Health, and Environment – Africa (SOWSHE-A) has announced the inaugural African Women in Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety (EHS) Conference and Awards.

Funmi Adegbola Founder of SOWSHE-A, made the announcement in a statement recently.

According to the statement, the pioneering event, set to take place on September 27-28 in Lagos, Nigeria, will unite over 1,000 professionals from across Africa to recognise and empower both aspiring and practicing Women in the EHS sector.

Themed ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Women Leading the Way to Safer and Sustainable Communities,’ the conference and awards promises to be a platform for collaboration, innovation, and meaningful dialogue.

Keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking opportunities will highlight the essential contributions of women in EHS as well as promote a creative ideas on the approach to foster a safer and more inclusive future of the profession.

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“This conference represents a significant step forward in recognising and empowering women who are leading the way in EHS across Africa as well as championing and challenging the status quo on equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession.” said by Funmi Adegbola.

Adegbola further disclosed that the Society is thrilled to bring together a diverse lineup of speakers and presenters, including Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations; Vanessa Phala-Moyo, the Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone; Yetunde Ilori, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN); Michael Robinson, CEO, British Safety Council; Lanre Mojola,

DG/CEO of Lagos State Safety Commission; and Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher, CEO, The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

“We look forward to partnering with organisations that share our vision of Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges for a safer and more inclusive culture in Africa,” Adegbola concluded.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.