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Empowering Women: Highlights from International Women's Day Celebration

Breaking Barriers: Celebrating Women's Entrepreneurship and Advocacy at the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria

Speakers at the Women's day event with the Ambassador

In March 2024 #WomensHistoryMonth, here was how we celebrated International Women’s Day at the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria.

The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria organized an event at Innov8 Hub to honor International Women's Day, focusing on Women in Entrepreneurship. The event convened Nigerian Ministers, officials, businesswomen, diplomats, and entrepreneurs.

The Minister of Tourism of Nigeria, the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria and his wife Sigalit Freeman

Ambassador Michael Freeman, highlighted the remarkable contributions of Nigerian and Israeli women to nation-building, innovation, and entrepreneurship, he also spoke about the i-FAIR program which is designed to have a prominent impact on Nigerian nation-building, economic development and job creation, and underlined the amazing success of the female graduates of the program.

Ambassador Freeman also addressed the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7th and specifically mentioned the United Nations Special Representative’s report that makes clear that Israeli women were subject to brutal gender based sexual violence including rape, gang rape and sexualized torture. He also called for the immediate release of the 134 hostages, including 19 women, still being held by Hamas.

The Honourable Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, reiterated the essential roles women play in shaping communities, nations, and continents. She urged guests to hououred the achievements of women – past, present and future and create a world where women and girls can achieve her aspirations.

i-FAIR Fellows, including Adejoke Laisisi from Planet3R, shared their experiences in sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.

Guests at women's day celebration

A panel session moderated by Engr. Betty Ugona, a Special Advisor on innovation at Innov8 Hub, featured panelists such as Ogo Ifeoma Akabogu, Regional Manager for the North Central Region SME Directorate of the Bank of Industry, Jacki Goren, Director and Head of the Sofaer Global MBA at Tel Aviv University, and Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro, Founder of MitiMeth, who illustrated how women can lead with emotional intelligence through personal anecdotes.

Guests also had the chance to support Nigerian women by purchasing their products at the exhibition stand.

Guests at the exhibition stand for women's day celebration

Let's continue to empower women to achieve their full potential!