Women conferees have called for a focus on building bridges within themselves to better fulfil their primary societal roles. This was the central message following the inaugural UpYou Women Conference 2023, which took place at the elegant Ebony Life Place in Victoria Island, Lagos, and was also broadcast internationally on social media platforms.
The conference revolved around the resonant theme “Building Bridges from Within.” This full-day event featured a range of captivating presentations, including a keynote speech by Julia Oku titled “Bridges and Breaches,” Bimbo Oloyede’s discussion on “Media Capability as a Tool for Building Bridges from Within – Perspectives for the 21st Century Woman,” Fadekemi Olumide-Aluko’s perspective on “Learning & Unlearning Yourself – an Educator’s Perspective,” and Dr. Irene Olumese’s exploration of “Building Bridges of Inclusivity,” among others. Microfinance advocate Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka addressed the audience on “Building Bridges for Life: From Grit to Grace,” and Ms. Sola Ismail offered advice on “Building Financial Bridges.”
A distinguished panel of four women delved into vital topics, including rebuilding bridges after facing adversity (Unyime-Ivy King), highlighting the pivotal role of listening in bridge-building (Ebele Chukwujama), emphasising the need for every woman to be a bridge (Vinitha Nimmyel), and discussing the art of building bridges from silence (Titiola Vivour Adeniyi).
Conference attendees embarked on a transformative journey, engaging in networking, learning, unlearning, and relearning essential principles for constructing bridges that connect or reconnect them for future growth.
The hybrid conference welcomed participants from Cameroon, Ghana, and the Republic of Benin, while virtual attendees joined from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Bahrain.
Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem, the conference convener and host of the radio show UpYou with Ezinne, emphasised the profound significance of the conference theme: “Building Bridges from Within.” It symbolises the inherent power within each individual to establish connections, break down barriers, and facilitate lasting change. The theme underscores the importance of dismantling walls and creating bridges that unite people across gender, age, race, and socioeconomic divisions. These bridges serve as symbols of support, understanding, and collaboration, propelling women towards success and a brighter collective future.
