Women in leadership positions in Non-profit organizations have been encouraged to prioritize strategic networking and relationship building as a means of advancing gender equality and promoting social inclusion in Rivers State.
The call was made during the Leadership Breakfast for Women Non-Profit Leaders held in Port Harcourt. The meeting, themed “Women Elevate” with sub-theme “Women Leading With Purpose And Clarity”, was organized by the Collective Initiative for Peace and the Development of Women and Women.
Speaking on the theme “Strategic network and the creation of relationships”, Nancy Iheduru urged the participants to move beyond “survival networks” for more intentional and strategic engagements that foster meaningful collaborations.
She emphasized that strong partnerships remain a critical leadership asset, helping to reduce isolation, unlock resources and amplify impact. Iheduru emphasized the need for women leaders to demonstrate determination in building relationships, noting that effective partnerships require clear purpose, shared values and consistent communication.
She also warned of common pitfalls such as underestimating contributions, network transactions, poor follow-up and over-commitment without clear agreements.
According to her, strategic partnerships not only improve the sustainability of the organization, but also serve as a support system that helps managers manage workloads, prevent burnout, and expand their reach.
In a special presentation titled ‘Leadership with Purpose: Overcoming Leadership Biases and Generating Impact’, Dr. Emem Okon, Executive Director of Kebetkache Women’s Development and Resource Center, emphasized the importance of purpose-oriented leadership.
She emphasized that effective leadership requires intentionality, inclusiveness and alignment between vision, values and actions. Okon called on women to actively address conscious and unconscious biases that can hinder inclusive decision-making and limit their influence.
“Today, leadership goes beyond occupying positions of authority. This requires clear objectives, accountability and the ability to inspire meaningful change,” she said.
She also explained that overcoming prejudices such as gender, cultural and confirmation biases are essential to build equitable and sustainable systems. Goal-oriented leaders, she added, must prioritize ethical decision-making, hold others accountable and promote inclusive environments that promote participation and equity.
The organizer and executive director of the organization, Rita Kigbara, said the initiative was designed to provide a reflective space for women in the non-profit sector to recharge, learn and strengthen collaboration.
Kigbara noted that women-led organizations play a critical role in shaping social development and need continuous development and support. He added that the retreat also aims to debunk the idea that women do not collaborate effectively, emphasizing that collective action remains essential to achieve faster and lasting results.
She revealed that the retreat will become an annual event, while ongoing engagement continues through a network of women in non-profit organizations aimed at deepening collaboration and expanding impact in the Niger Delta.
According to her, the long-term vision is to expand the initiative beyond Rivers State, fostering stronger networks of women leaders in the region.
The retreat concluded with a call to women leaders to embrace intentional leadership, overcome systemic barriers, and work collectively to bring about lasting social change.
