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Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his Ekiti State counterpart, Biodun Oyebanji, are expected to headline the 26th National Women Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), scheduled to hold in Lagos from October 26 to 28.
The two governors have been invited as Special Guests of Honour for the opening and closing ceremonies respectively, as COWLSO prepares to host women from different sectors and walks of life for three days of conversations on purpose, leadership, empowerment and legacy.
The First Lady of Lagos State and Chairperson of COWLSO, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference in Lagos ahead of the conference.
The conference, themed “Anchored for Purpose: Be the Blueprint,” will take place at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, with both physical and virtual participation.
Sanwo-Olu said the decision to invite Oborevwori and Oyebanji reflected the growing national reach of the conference and its increasing recognition as a platform for advancing the development and empowerment of women.
She said the participation of the two governors would also underscore the importance of national collaboration in addressing issues affecting women, families and communities.
According to her, the 2026 edition is the 26th National Women Conference and the eighth to be held under the administration of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
She said the conference had evolved beyond an annual gathering into a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, empowerment and meaningful conversations on issues affecting women and society.
Sanwo-Olu said this year’s theme was designed to challenge women to recognise the responsibilities that accompany influence, opportunity and leadership.
She explained that being “the blueprint” meant creating examples, values and structures that could positively influence families, workplaces, communities and future generations.
The conference is expected to attract government officials, policymakers, professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, development practitioners, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, young women and women’s groups.
Sanwo-Olu said the three-day programme would feature an opening ceremony and keynote lectures on the first day, further lectures and presentations on the second day, alongside the traditional COWLSO Gala Night.
The final day will feature the closing ceremony, providing participants with an opportunity to reflect on the lessons and commitments arising from the conference.
She also announced a pre-conference walk themed “Blueprint in Motion: From Vision to Action,” which will take participants through notable locations across Lagos Island, including Tafawa Balewa Square, the National Museum, Tinubu Square, MUSON Centre, Eko Atlantic and the Palace of the Oba of Lagos.
According to her, the walk is intended to connect the conference’s message of purpose and legacy with the history, culture and development of Lagos.
COWLSO will also pay courtesy visits to prominent senior women in Lagos, including Mrs A.Y. Oyediran Kakawa, Erelu Dosumu and Mrs Bintu Tinubu.
An awareness walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, as part of activities designed to take the conference’s message beyond the venue and into the wider community.
Sanwo-Olu said the conference would be conducted in a hybrid format to enable participants who cannot attend physically to join virtually.
Physical participation is pegged at N150,000, with space for 3,000 participants, while virtual participation costs N50,000 with no limit on attendance.
Registration commenced on September 15 and is scheduled to close on October 15, while late physical registration will attract an additional N15,000.
Sanwo-Olu said only five participants would be accommodated physically from each ministry, department and agency, while virtual participation would remain open.
She urged women across Nigeria and beyond to participate in the conference, saying its ultimate value would be measured by what participants did with the knowledge, relationships and ideas generated.
She said the conference was designed to encourage women to move “from vision to action, from intention to impact” and to leave the spaces they occupy better than they found them.
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