Across the globe, women continue to shape major industries, pioneer groundbreaking innovations, and drive systemic change. Yet, despite these monumental strides, deep-seated societal expectations, gender-based biases, and cultural stereotypes persist. In direct response to these barriers, the Rikolla Aid Foundation proudly hosted the highly anticipated third edition of its flagship initiative: A Woman and More (AWAM 2025).
A woman and More Celebrating Women
Designed as a premier transformational safe space, AWAM 2025 brought together women—and supportive men—from diverse professional, cultural, and social sectors. The event served as an intellectual and emotional incubator to exchange ideas, share raw experiences, and proffer solutions to critical issues affecting the holistic growth, inclusion, and socioeconomic well-being of women.
If you missed the live event, this comprehensive breakdown captures the most impactful value, core insights, and life-changing strategies shared by our esteemed panel of leaders, stakeholders, and advocates.
Opening the event with a profound sense of purpose, Ghaniyat Adunola, the visionary convener of AWAM and founder of the Rikolla Aid Foundation, reminded attendees of the baseline reality that all human beings face:
“Challenges are inevitable in life. But they must neither define us nor stampede our success journey. We all have stories to tell, but how well are your stories inspiring other people?”
Adunola explained that the structural framework of AWAM is anchored on the power of relatable, motivational narratives. By showcasing successful women who have navigated severe personal and professional obstacles, the foundation seeks to help others discover their own transformational niche.
Drawing deep spiritual and psychological parallels, she offered a universal blueprint for resilience:
The Law of Balance: For every difficulty, there is a corresponding ease. For every negative eventuality, a positive outcome exists.
The Catalyst for Growth: A setback is not a permanent destination; rather, it is a necessary developmental step toward expanding your personal and professional capacity.
The centerpiece of AWAM 2025 was a high-octane panel session moderated by Aziza Adangba. The discourse focused heavily on dismantling the artificial pressures placed upon modern women to conform to outdated societal molds.
The panel brought together a multifaceted mix of psychological, social, and economic perspectives to address the courage required to live truthfully in a world dominated by curated expectations.
In a heartwarming and visually moving segment, young representatives from the visually impaired community took to the stage to speak on behalf of women navigating life with disabilities. They shed light on the painful biases they confront daily, noting that when society sees them in public spaces, the immediate, lazy assumption is often that they are begging or lack inherent value.
The speakers strongly emphasized that true empowerment must include mental health preservation and emotional happiness. To care effectively for families and contribute meaningfully to society, women with disabilities must first be accepted, supported, and loved as whole individuals. The Rikolla Aid Foundation remains fiercely committed to providing these often-overlooked demographics with the platforms, visibility, and economic toolkits required to shatter the glass ceilings imposed by both disability and gender.
Nneka Isaac-Moses, the celebrated Co-founder of Goge Africa, advocated passionately for the preservation and continuous support of community networks like AWAM. Reflecting on the networking wealth generated in the room, she stated:
“This is an initiative that is highly relevant and needs sustained institutional support. When people come together like this, there is an immense cross-pollination of information spanning beauty, religion, culture, and career. It creates an invaluable bridge of connectivity, particularly for our young people.”
Isaac-Moses noted that experiential learning—the simple act of pulling younger women into rooms with experienced matriarchs and industry leaders—is the fastest way to accelerate leadership development across Africa.
| Core Pillars of the AWAM Platform | Community Impact & Value |
| Authentic Identity Development | Dismantling societal stereotypes to build confident, self-actualized female leaders. |
| Socioeconomic Networking | Creating reliable professional connections between corporate mentors and emerging youth. |
| Inclusive Advocacy | Integrating and empowering marginalized groups, including the visually impaired. |
| Financial Literacy & Preparedness | Equipping women with strategic wealth creation, saving, and investment frameworks. |
A major highlight of the day was an empowering financial masterclass delivered by Olaniyi Yusuf, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). Addressing the economic vulnerabilities women face in shifting financial landscapes, Yusuf challenged the audience to re-examine their daily relationship with time, capital, and resource management.
[Total Personal Resources]
/ \
/ \
[Time Allotted] [Capital Expended]
| |
(Grooming Appearance) (Purchasing Liabilities)
-vs- -vs-
(Growing Capacity) (Investing in Assets)
Yusuf introduced a critical binary model for evaluating self-worth and future security:
“Are you spending your limited daily hours merely grooming your appearance so you look good to the external world, or are you spending that time genuinely growing yourself by developing new skills, cultivating fresh ideas, and sharpening your latent talents?” true transformation, he argued, begins internally.
Addressing the reality of limited capital, Yusuf warned against the immediate gratification of consumerism. Because financial rainy days are certain to come, true empowerment requires disciplined preparation. This means actively choosing to divert capital away from transient luxury items and channeling it into sustainable financial investments and savings that appreciate over time.
True community development cannot happen in a vacuum; it requires the active allyship of men and macro-level stakeholders. This sentiment was echoed strongly by Sulayman Adangba, a prominent marriage counselor, who reminded the audience of a fundamental societal truth:
“Without a woman, there is no world. Taking comprehensive care of the woman and the girl-child is not a luxury—it is a sacred, necessary sacrifice required to make our world a beautiful place to live.”
Adding to this framework, civil servant Moruf Tijani commended the long-term consistency of the Rikolla Aid Foundation as it marked the third successful year of this program. He proudly noted that African women possess an unparalleled baseline of natural strength, resilience, and intelligence. Programs like AWAM do not need to create capability; they simply need to provide the strategic infrastructure to release that pre-existing brilliance into the global market.
The curtain has closed on the AWAM 2025 event, but the lifelong work of human development, educational advancement, and economic empowerment continues daily at the Rikolla Aid Foundation.
We do not just host annual conferences—we run year-round skill acquisition bootcamps, inclusive mentorship circles, financial literacy workshops, and advocacy projects aimed at giving every woman the tools to turn her struggles into a powerful story of success.
Your journey toward breaking personal boundaries and embracing radical authenticity starts here.
Partner & Sponsor: Help us extend our reach to more visually impaired youth, rural entrepreneurs, and young girls looking for access to quality education and mentorship.
Join Our Community: Sign up for our upcoming quarterly webinars, networking mixers, and targeted financial planning circles.
Share Your Story: Become a mentor or a speaker in our next edition and use your lived experiences to lift another sister up.
Visit the official Rikolla Aid Foundation for AWAM 2026 portal today to access premium resources, event recordings, and community toolkits. Together, let us prove that you are never just a statistic—you are A Woman and More!