By: Momodou S Gagigo
In a groundbreaking moment for African women’s leadership, the 10th International Women Power Conference (IWPC) made history by holding its first-ever edition outside Nigeria, choosing Banjul as the stage to celebrate resilience, innovation, and empowerment.
The two-day landmark event, chaired by US-based Gambian entrepreneur and philanthropist Zainab Musa Demba Jammeh Darboe, drew hundreds of policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and creatives to the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre and Bakadaji Hotel.
For nine years confined to Nigeria, the conference’s arrival in The Gambia was hailed as a “great success” by Lady Zainab, who faced and overcame logistical hurdles and online scepticism. Speaking firmly but gracefully, she addressed rumours head-on: “This is no different from the Heroes Award organised by my good friend Fatu Camara. It’s not a scam, and people should refrain from damaging others’ reputations.” She thanked IWPC founder, Nigerian philanthropist Dr. Chris Oko Odey, for his decade-long commitment to community upliftment.
The centerpiece of the conference was the Phenomenal 100 Women Awards, honouring trailblazers in entrepreneurship, leadership, and social impact. Among the recipients was Auntie Ndey Conteh, President of the ECOWAS Federation of Business Women and Entrepreneurs Gambia (FEBWE Gambia). Accepting her award, Conteh declared: “This recognition represents the collective strength, resilience, and brilliance of Gambian and African women everywhere. I dedicate it to every woman who dares to dream boldly and every entrepreneur who keeps going despite the odds.”
First Lady Fatoumata Bah Barrow brought presidential prestige to the gathering, aligning her Fatoumata Bah Barrow Foundation (FABB) with IWPC’s mission. “Empowering women is empowering nations,” she told the audience. “I commend IWPC for ten years of impactful work and encourage every woman here to lead with purpose and lift others as they rise.”
Day one featured high-level keynotes, panel discussions on economic inclusion and innovation, and the Global Leading Women Awards. Day two shifted to celebration, opening with a vibrant Vogue Show showcasing African fashion and closing with a glamorous Gala Dinner where the Phenomenal 100 were formally honoured.
Conference chair Lady Zainab, radiating pride throughout the weekend, told attendees: “Today’s awards are not just acknowledgments of hard work; they serve as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite our collective strength for global impact. Together, let’s uplift one another, live boldly, and transform our world.”
As delegates departed Banjul, the message was unmistakable: African women are no longer waiting for seats at the table—they are building bigger tables. The successful hosting of the 10th IWPC has cemented The Gambia’s place on the continental map of women’s empowerment and signalled that the next decade of the conference will be bolder, broader, and unmistakably Pan-African.
