Joyce Onwuka
Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), a non-profit organization committed to advancing professional women in Nigeria and across Africa, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, has officially launched the inaugural phase of its Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP). The programme is targeted at emerging female leaders in the legal and governance sectors.
The launch, held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, was marked by an opening ceremony that also featured the unveiling of the 2025 WISCAR WILMP Needs Assessment Report on Women’s Advancement in Public Sector Law, Lawmaking, and Legal Practice.
According to the Report, women remain starkly underrepresented across Nigeria’s legal and governance institutions, despite forming an increasingly significant portion of the legal workforce. As of December 2024, women comprised only 4% of National Assembly members, 23% of Supreme Court justices, and 4% of Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Over half of those surveyed reported having limited or no access to mentorship and professional networks—essential resources for career advancement and leadership development.
In response to these challenges, the WISCAR Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP) was created to bridge systemic and cultural gaps by equipping aspiring female leaders in public legal practice, lawmaking, and governance with the mentorship, skills, and networks they need to rise to leadership roles. The six-month programme includes targeted capacity building, leadership development, and access to strategic networks, forming a vital foundation for long-term transformation.
WILMP directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), by promoting inclusive leadership and strengthening women’s representation across Nigeria’s legal and governance frameworks.
In her opening remarks, Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, LLM, FCIoD, highlighted the urgent need for intentional interventions to close the gender gap in the legal profession.
“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.”
In her goodwill message, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, Chief Justice of Nigeria, commended WISCAR’s leadership and commitment to equity in the legal profession:
“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 inaugural WILMP cohort includes 150 mentees, officially inducted at the opening ceremony. Among them is Katherine Kpanja, who noted: “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 was attended by dignitaries and senior leaders from government, the judiciary, legal practice, academia, and the private sector. Notable attendees included: Justice Iyabode Oshodi; Ayo Obe, OON, human rights lawyer and activist; Boma Alabi, OON, SAN, Senior Partner, Primera Africa Legal; Honorable Justic Oluwatoyin Ipaye, Judge, Lagos State Judiciary; Mr. Ademola Akinrele, SAN, Managing Partner, F.O. Akinrele & CO; Adebayo Oyagbola, Managing Partner, Oyagbola Chambers and Founding Director, WISCAR; Toki Mabogunje, Toki Mabogunje & Co; Habiba Balogun, Habiba Balogun Consulting; and Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founder& ED WARDC.
The Women in Law Mentoring Programme is part of WISCAR’s broader strategy to increase women’s representation in key legal and policymaking roles to at least 35% by 2027. The initiative addresses intersectional barriers and provides participants with mentorship, leadership training, and a lifelong community of advocates committed to gender-inclusive governance.