Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) is a non-profit organisation that has, over the last 18 years, implemented programs that inspire, empower and advocate for greater representation of women in leadership positions in the public and private sector.
WIMBIZ has a contributory associate pool of over 768 accomplished women in management, business and public service and over 9,500 women in its database. WIMBIZ collaborates with credible domestic and international global organizations to deliver programs, which have influenced over 107,465 women since inception. Their vision at WIMBIZ is to be the catalyst that elevates the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation-building.
Their mission is to inspire and empower women to attain leadership positions in business, management and public service. They are advocates for gender parity and increasing the representation of women in leadership positions in business, management, and public service. The Women on Boards and CEO/Policy Makers Interactive Series programs are strong tools towards the achievement of same.
They recently concluded their 2-day annual conference themed “Shaping the Future: Strategizing to Win” and it provided an opportunity for frank discussion, deliberation and debate on the future for women in their various sectors, and how they build and sustain a successful career.
In her welcome address to delegates, Chairperson (former), Executive Council, WIMBIZ, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi explained that the rationale behind the theme for this year’s conference is to point to the inherent ability that is latent within each person to make something of their future. “We all have the capacity to be proactive in shaping the outcome of our lives” she added.
The event was chaired by former Chief Judge, Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Rose Ukeje, OFR. The Keynote on Day 1 was delivered by Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, First Lady, Ekiti State and Day 2 keynote address was delivered by Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO, Africa Leadership University.
A highlight of the event was the 2019 Female Achievers’ Award recognising trailblazing women in the civil service who have contributed to the growth and sustainability of the public sector. The recipients this year were Engr. Ebele Okeke, OON, CFR, Chairman/CEO Chantaly Engineering Services and Amal Inyingiala Pepple, CFR, Board Member, SunTrust Bank Nigeria Ltd.
The winners of the WIMBIZ Impact Investment Competition, sponsored by ACT Foundation, were also announced at the conference. The 2019 Impact Investment Grant recipients were: Augustina Emele, CEO Chais Initiative; Adeike Ogunsade, CEO Crowncare Couture; and Peggy Ovat, CEO Peggies Kitchen.
Also at the closing ceremony of the conference, outgoing Chairman of the WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, Funmi Roberts handed over the baton of leadership, after her three-year tenure, to Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, Founder/CEO, DO.II Designs Limited. Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi handed over the baton of leadership of the WIMBIZ Executive Council as Chairperson after her two-year tenure to Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Head Coverage, Rand Merchant Bank, Nigeria.
IFEYINWA IGHODALO
Ifeyinwa Ighodalo holds B.Sc. in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but upon realizing her passion for interiors, in 1987, she established Design Options Ltd., a prestigious interior decorating and furniture manufacturing outfit. Since inception, Design Options has grown to become and is now widely recognized as one of the country’s very best in its area of expertise, in recognition of which it was honoured with the 2004 St. Moritz Style Award for Interior Design. She is a volunteer mentor for the mentorship programme of Fate Foundation. She is married to Asue Ighodalo and they are blessed with a beautiful daughter.
NGOVER IHYEMBE-NWANKWO
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo is a Corporate and Institutional Banking Executive with 17+ years’ experience in Financial Services across a wide range of functions including, Corporate Relationship Management, Sales, Credit, Transaction Banking, Remedial Account Management and Risk.
She is currently Head Coverage at Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria. Prior to this role, Ngover was an Executive Principal with Standard Chartered Nigeria responsible for anchoring the bank’s International Corporates Portfolio. She was also previously responsible for structuring and implementing working capital and securities services solutions for Corporate Finance & Capital Markets clients across the Standard Chartered Bank’s Africa footprint. She also managed the Multinationals Portfolio under the Global Corporates Team and before that was Country Head of Transaction Banking.
Ngover holds a Master’s degree in International Management from the University of Exeter and a Bachelor’s Degree in Combined Social Sciences (Politics, Philosophy & Economics) from the University of Durham both in the United Kingdom. She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Credit Administration.
Ngover is passionate about supporting women to achieve their full potential and sits on the WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business & Public Service) Executive Council. She has also contributed to the Nigeria Banker’s Committee Sub-Committee on Women Empowerment. She enjoys providing finance and accounting coaching/training through volunteering.
Her hobbies include reading, mentoring, travelling & culinary arts. She is happily married to a wonderfully supportive husband and they are blessed with 2 lovely daughters.
