Twenty-nine women leaders across Nigeria’s health sector have completed the 2025 Nigeria Leadership Journey, a year-long leadership development programme that strengthens women’s influence and impact within the country’s healthcare system.
The initiative, delivered through a partnership between WomenLift Health and Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN), concluded with a two-day in-person “Lift-Off” event in Abuja. The gathering brought together stakeholders from government, development organisations, and the broader health ecosystem to mark the participants’ transition into a new phase of leadership.
For mid-career professionals already working within Nigeria’s health system, the programme focuses on deepening leadership capacity, strengthening participants’ voices, and expanding their professional networks to improve decision-making and health outcomes.
Although women make up a significant proportion of Nigeria’s health workforce, particularly in frontline roles, leadership positions remain disproportionately held by men. This gap is especially critical in a country that accounts for nearly 20% of global maternal deaths, underscoring the urgent need for more inclusive and representative leadership to improve maternal and broader health outcomes. The programme directly addresses this by building a pipeline of women leaders equipped to influence health systems at scale.
