DANG Women Fest 2024: Ifedayo Agoro Inspires, Empowers Women To Greatness
THE Podium Lekki came alive on Saturday, April 6, with excitement as women from all walks of life, including the crème de la crème of society, gathered for the DANG Women Fest 2024 hosted by the empowering online community, Diary of a Naija Girl .
Overall, the festival served as a platform to celebrate women of substance, empower others, and foster a sense of inclusion and support within the community.
The event, spearheaded by the convener, Ifedayo Agoro, a former oil and gas executiveturned- founder of Diary of a Naija Girl and CEO of skincare and scents brand, DANG Lifestyle, had as theme, “Inspiring Inclusion and Breaking the Norms.”
The theme, in fact, resonated with the attendees, as they had opportunity to listen to wellcrafted speeches that were not inspiring, but motivating.
The speakers shared inspiring stories of resilience and success in their respective fields. The speakers and panellists all had inspiring and motivating stories and were ready to give supporting hands to help other women attain wealth and success.
Agoro, the face behind the project, emphasised the significance of celebrating diversity and empowering women from all backgrounds.
The event, which is the first of its kind, took three weeks to put together.
According to her, “after nine years of gathering daily online as a community, DANG Women Fest embodies the mission of Diary of a Naija Girl by providing a physical platform for women to connect, learn and thrive.”
With a commendable turnout of diverse women, including career leaders, entrepreneurs, mothers, and students, the festival provided a vibrant space for collaboration, growth, and celebration.
Keynote speaker Adesua Dozie, Vice Chairman of Exxon Mobil Nigeria, underscored the importance of women’s leadership and empowerment in today’s society, highlighting the need for more female representation in leadership positions across various sectors. She observed: “We have few female CEOS at the helm of affairs compared to the men who are found in every sector.”
Dozie nudged women not to relent in their efforts to be relevant in male- dominated spaces.
Also speaking, Uche Pedro, CEO of Bellanaija, told participants her inspiring story and how she built her brand despite the odds she faced. She added that what made it possible was “teamwork and team spirit.”
Another speaker, Hilda Baci, a content creator and head chef at My Food by Hilda restaurant, disclosed how she used relationships, social media and public relations to push her brand at the Guinness World Record- winning cookathon.
She, however, added that there is a lot of money in food blogs if one has a passion for it. Another social influencer, Hauwa Lawal, popularly known as lyawo Kabiru, said she started her social media platform anonymously, then she was broke, and as soon she put her face, she started making money.
She disclosed that it took seven years to upload her first video because of fear, doubt and discouragement but she braced up and today the story is different.
Anita Asuoha ( Real Warri Pikin), a social media practitioner, disclosed that she has support from her husband and family to weather social media storms.
Panels and breakout sessions covered a wide range of topics, from personal finance to mental wellness, all tailored to various interests and industries .
Aside from the main speakers and lead motivators, other speakers and panellists included Omotolani Sarah Olowojoba ( Diary of a Kitchen Lover), Stephanie Busari ( Senior Editor, CNN), Oluwatoyin Olaseinde ( Founder of Money Africa), Ife Durosinmi- Etti ( Founder of Herconomy), Lala Akindoju, Deola Art Alade ( CEO of Livespot), Ify’s Kitchen, Banke Kuku, Olubukola George- Taylor, alongside interactive sessions with community leaders that Agoro tailored to various interests and industries, covering topics ranging from personal finance and career development to mental wellness and self- care.
The event also featured live performances by Niniola and DJ sets by Ms DSF, along with meet- and- greets with inspiring women, a pop- up DANG Lifestyle shop, and wine and dine sessions throughout the evening. Olive Mordi, an MC and broadcast journalist, skillfully coordinated the event .
DANG Women Fest 2024 was proudly sponsored by 5Alive, with support from Woodhall Capital, Guinness, Dang Lifestyle, and Kafe Fresco, among others. Partners such as Bellanaija, Document Women, Aura by Transcorp, and Shuttlers contributed to the success of the event.