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Thursday, 3 July 2025

WISCAR Launches Mentorship Initiative to Elevate Women Leaders in Law and Governance


Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), a non-profit dedicated to advancing professional women in Nigeria and across Africa, has launched the first phase of its Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP) in partnership with the Gates Foundation. The initiative targets emerging female leaders within the legal and governance sectors.

The programme officially kicked off on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, with an opening ceremony that included the unveiling of the 2025 WISCAR WILMP Needs Assessment Report. The report highlights the persistent underrepresentation of women in key legal and governance roles despite their growing numbers in the legal profession.

According to the findings, women held only 4% of National Assembly seats, made up 23% of Supreme Court justices, and represented just 4% of Senior Advocates of Nigeria as of December 2024. Additionally, over 50% of respondents indicated they had limited or no access to mentorship and professional networks—key elements for career growth and leadership development.

In response, the WILMP initiative was designed to address these structural and cultural barriers. It provides aspiring female leaders with access to mentorship, skills development, and strategic networks over a six-month period. The programme focuses on public legal practice, lawmaking, and governance, with the aim of fostering long-term transformation.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)—WILMP promotes inclusive leadership and stronger representation for women in legal and governance institutions.

In her remarks at the launch, Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, LLM, FCIoD, emphasized the urgency of closing the gender gap in the legal field.

“WISCAR was founded on the conviction that empowering women and promoting gender equality are not just moral imperatives but critical levers for national and institutional progress. Through the Women in Law Mentoring Programme, we are investing in the systems and support structures needed to help women break barriers and thrive in leadership. This programme is a strategic step toward cultivating a new generation of value-driven female leaders—across the judiciary, legislature, executive, academia, and private legal practice. Our goals are clear: increase female representation in leadership to 35% by 2027, support career re-entry pathways, and strengthen inclusive structures that empower women to rise, lead, and thrive.”

Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, Chief Justice of Nigeria, also shared her support in a goodwill message: “I applaud WISCAR for its unwavering commitment to promoting inclusive leadership within Nigeria’s legal and governance sectors. The justice system can only achieve its full potential when women are equally represented, empowered, and heard. As the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria, I know firsthand the value of mentorship and support systems. To every mentee in this programme: you are our future judges, lawmakers, advocates, and nation-builders. Let us continue to uphold a legal ecosystem grounded in integrity, excellence, and equity.”

The first WILMP cohort features 150 mentees who were formally inducted during the launch. One of them, Katherine Kpanja, expressed her enthusiasm:

“I applied to this programme because I believe it will give me the opportunity to learn directly from high-ranking professionals succeeding in the path I aspire to follow.”

The event drew senior leaders from across sectors, including members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, academics, and private sector representatives. Among the notable attendees were Justice Iyabode Oshodi; Ayo Obe, OON; Boma Alabi, OON, SAN; Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye; Mr. Ademola Akinrele, SAN; Adebayo Oyagbola; Toki Mabogunje; Habiba Balogun; and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.

The Women in Law Mentoring Programme is part of WISCAR’s broader strategy to increase women’s representation in senior legal and policymaking roles to at least 35% by 2027. The initiative aims to dismantle intersectional barriers and foster a lifelong community of empowered women committed to gender-inclusive leadership.

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