A disruptive innovator, Mrs Foluke Micheals, has urged women in Nigeria and worldwide to play important roles to lead better. She encouraged women to make responsible decisions to help protect and preserve the environment, like actions that reduce carbon emissions.

Mrs Michaels, the Chief Executive Officer of Creative Youth Community Development Initiative, gave the appeal in her keynote address at an event organized by Covenant University in commemoration of the 2021 International Women's Day.

She asserted that not being empowered was not the fault of the men, rather, the women's fault, and as such, women must strive to support one another. Women must learn to encourage themselves and not run themselves down, she emphasized.

According to Mrs Michaels, women must talk less about taking action but take action. "It is imperative that we as women not limit ourselves, as one is not limited to the community where she lives. You are more than your environment, and you can stand up for yourself," she said.

While pondering how women ensured they keep the environment clean and also ensured availability of clean water, the Keynote Speaker maintained that the female gender must ensure that they solve community issues as women.

In his opening remarks at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Professor Humphrey H. Adebayo, represented by the Director, Vice-Chancellor's Office, Dr Omotayo Osibanjo, congratulated all the women who contributed to the success of the 2021 International Women's Day.

Professor Adebayo pointed out that human society consisted of men and women; therefore, sustainable development initiatives must be inclusive in harnessing a nation's knowledge and skills stock potentials. He said, studies had shown that gender inclusiveness in sectoral and national development was vital for sustainable development.

He noted that as an institution, Covenant had consistently recognized women's role and demonstrated responsiveness to gender-related issues in its recruitment and staff welfare policies and executive appointments into offices in the University.

The Registrar, Covenant University, Dr Oluwasegun Omidiora, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Igban, congratulated the organizers of this year's International Women's Day, the Covenant University Community Development Impact Initiative (CDIIC) and the Covenant Women Advance.

Dr Omidiora stated that Covenant University women had made and were still making giant strides in leadership, with the impactful leadership of the 2nd Substantive Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Professor Aize Obayan, of blessed memory, a classic example.

"She was a leader of leaders who proved that women could hold their own in a male-dominated world. We still have such women leaders blazing the trail in diverse fields in our midst in Covenant, and most of them are seated in this hall today. Congratulations on being leading leaders," he enthused.

In her remarks at the event, one of the Panel Discussants focused on this year's International Women's Day theme, #ChooseToChallenge. Professor Yemisi Babalola, an Information Resources Management expert from Babcock University, expressed her excitement that Babcock University was a gender-sensitive university.

She pointed out that though the educational institution was a male-dominated one, it remained gender-sensitive. The men were willing to support the women to be a part of the leadership. She stated that, generally, the environment was more open to accepting and supporting women's growth and progress in today's world.

Other panellists who spoke at the event included the Chairman of the panel, Professor Banke Ogunlana of the Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University; and Mrs Janet Jolaoso, Chair, Committee for Women Empowerment, IFTDO for Africa and Asia. The panelists also included Professor Grace Olasehinde of the Department of Biochemistry, Covenant; Mrs Faye Amana; and Professor Mojisola Usikalu, the Head of Department, Physics, Covenant.

The event themed 'Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World', #ChoosetoChallenge, celebrated the tremendous efforts by women and girls worldwide in shaping a similar destiny and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while highlighting the gaps that remain.