The Thriving Business Women Foundation (TBWF) has announced the maiden edition of its Influencer Conference, a platform designed to help women in Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector move from survival to sustainable growth.
The conference, themed “Grow,” will hold on Friday, October 24 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. It will bring together thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners committed to advancing women’s leadership and enterprise across Africa.
Speakers include leadership coach Dr Sam Adeyemi, Tara Fela-Durotoye of House of Tara International, Niyi Adesanya of FifthGear Plus Consulting, Morenike Molehin of Oak and Teak Interiors and Seye Olurotimi, founder of MSME Africa.
At a news briefing in Lagos, TBWF founder and convener Mayokun Oreofe said the initiative was inspired by nearly two decades of working with women who, despite creativity and resilience, still face barriers that limit growth.
“What I’ve seen consistently is that women are not short of ideas or drive,” she said. “They are brilliant and hardworking, but often lack structure, access, and the right support system to grow sustainably. That’s why the Influencer Conference was born.”
She said the theme “Grow” reflects the journey from talent to capacity and from capacity to influence. Beyond the one-day event, TBWF will launch the Influencer Leadership Institute, a mentoring and training hub for women leaders.
Oreofe noted that women-led MSMEs make up over 40 percent of Nigeria’s small businesses, yet few scale beyond the micro level due to limited access to funding, mentorship, and structure.
She named Wema Bank, through its women-focused product Sara by Wema, as a key partner, adding that the bank sponsored participants who could not afford to attend. The Bank of Industry (BOI) is also supporting the event through its women-focused funding product, Glue.
Other partners include Studio 24, Blooms Soft Furnishing & Gifts, Skyprint, Ubana Grill House, Deol Events, Posh Homewares, Danish Bakery, and Green Essence.
Oreofe explained that her work focuses on women, not out of competition, but balance. “My calling is specifically to women. It’s about empowerment where it’s needed most,” she said.
Registration is open both physically and online, with tickets priced at ₦120,000 for regular participants and ₦200,000 for VIPs.
“When a woman grows, everything around her grows – her enterprise, her family, and the economy,” Oreofe said. “The Influencer Conference is for every woman building something meaningful who needs structure, exposure, and community to reach the next level.”
