Govs Oborevwori, Oyebanji Headline COWLSO 2026, As Sanwo-Olu’s Wife Asks Women To Adopt Purposeful Leadership 

LAGOS, Nigeria — The First Lady of Lagos State and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State have been invited as Special Guests of Honour at the opening and closing ceremonies respectively, for this year’s COWLSO 2026 conference, with the theme: “Anchored for Purpose: Be the Blueprint.”

Equally, she urged women to embrace purposeful leadership and strive to leave enduring positive footprints in their families, workplaces and communities.

Sanwo-Olu made the call on Thursday while unveiling plans for the 26th National Women Conference of COWLSO, scheduled to hold from Monday, 26 October to Wednesday, 28 October, 2026, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This year’s conference is the 26th edition of the annual gathering and the eighth to be organised under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to Dr. Sanwo-Olu, the theme challenges women to look beyond personal accomplishments and consider the values, examples and legacies they are leaving behind for future generations, adding: “It is a call to live with purpose, make meaningful contributions and ensure that our presence creates value that can outlive us.”

She described the National Women Conference as more than an annual gathering, noting that it had evolved into a major platform for knowledge-sharing, empowerment, networking, reflection and inspiration for women across Lagos, Nigeria and beyond.

The First Lady stressed that the true measure of the conference would be determined by what participants did with the knowledge, relationships and ideas generated after the event.

The 2026 conference, according to the organisers, will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both physical and virtual participation.

Physical attendance is pegged at N150,000, with capacity for 3,000 participants, while virtual participation costs N50,000 without a limit on the number of participants.

Registration, which commenced on September 15, will close on October 15, while late physical registration begins on October 24 at an additional fee of N15,000.

The First Lady said only five participants would be accommodated from each Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA), owing to the limited physical capacity, while virtual participation would remain unlimited.

Sanwo-Olu said the participation of the two governors, alongside other prominent personalities, would further demonstrate the national reach of COWLSO and its growing contribution to women’s development and empowerment.

The First Lady also announced a series of activities designed to extend the conference’s message beyond the traditional conference setting.

Among them is the pre-conference walk, tagged, “Blueprint in Motion: From Vision to Action,” which will take participants through significant locations across Lagos Island.

The route will include Tafawa Balewa Square, the National Museum, Central Mosque, JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Tinubu Square, MUSON Centre, Eko Atlantic, Water House, Kakawa and the Palace of the Oba of Lagos.

According to her, the walk is designed not merely as a physical exercise but as a journey through Lagos’ past, present and future.

“Every generation inherits a blueprint and has a responsibility to build upon it and add something meaningful for the generations coming behind,” she said.

As part of the activities, COWLSO will also pay visits to prominent senior Lagos women, including Mrs. A.Y. Oyediran Kakawa, Erelu Dosunmu and Mrs. Bintu Tinubu.

An Awareness Walk is also scheduled for Saturday, October 10, to take the conference message into the wider community and generate greater awareness about its objectives and thematic focus.

A Fun Day, designed to promote relaxation, friendship, networking and fellowship among women, is also scheduled as part of the pre-conference activities.

Speaking further, the First Lady said the three-day conference would feature an opening ceremony and keynote lectures on the first day, followed by additional lectures and presentations on the second day.

According to her, the second day will also feature the traditional COWLSO Gala Night, while the final day will be devoted to the closing ceremony and reflection on the ideas, lessons and commitments generated during the conference.

She said the gathering would bring together women from diverse sectors, including government, policymaking, business, academia, development, diplomacy, civil society, traditional institutions and community organisations, while young women, women’s groups, entrepreneurs and professionals are also expected to participate.

Emphasising the importance of inclusivity, the First Lady said the hybrid format would enable women and other interested participants who could not attend physically to join the conference from different parts of the world.

She urged the media to go beyond reporting the opening and closing ceremonies and focus on the human stories, ideas, conversations and experiences that would emerge from the conference.

“There are several stories within this Conference: the women whose lives have been touched, the ideas that will emerge, the conversations around purpose and legacy, the cultural journey through Lagos Island, the awareness walk, the networking opportunities and the experiences that will bring women together physically and virtually,” she said.

The First Lady added that the conference should inspire women to reflect on their purpose and the footprints they were leaving for generations yet unborn.

Sanwo-Olu expressed appreciation to Governor

Sanwo-Olu for his support for initiatives promoting the wellbeing and development of women and families, as well as to COWLSO members, partners, speakers, sponsors and volunteers for their contributions to the growth of the platform.

She called on women across Lagos, Nigeria and beyond to participate actively in the 26th National Women Conference.

“Come ready to learn, to connect, to reflect and to act. Let us move from vision to action, from intention to impact, and from simply occupying spaces to leaving them better than we found them,” she said.