By Sodiq Adelakun and Olakunle Oke
Women must redefine success by prioritizing holistic health, work-life balance, and authentic purpose in their professional pursuits.
This was the central challenge issued by experts and leading professionals at the 2025 NewsDirect Thriving Women Conference (TWC) held on Saturday in Lagos.
The conference in its second edition and its maiden physical edition brought together a diverse mix of business leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs to share practical strategies for thriving without sacrificing family and personal wellbeing.
The Publisher and Executive Director of Nigerian NewsDirect, Prince Mathew Ibiyemi, who represented the Chief Host, Mrs Annette Titilayo Ibiyemi reaffirmed the media company’s deep commitment to women’s empowerment.
He noted the integral role women play in the newspaper’s structure and history, stating that the conference was dedicated to building a legacy of growth and inclusion.
He also expressed appreciation to sponsors and partners including Airtel Nigeria, Samuel Folorunsho Ibiyemi Foundation and Olive Pay.
Mrs. Opeyemi Adedokun, CEO of Ashday Health and Wellness, emphatically stated that true success is unattainable without prioritizing physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
She argued that health must precede ambition, illustrating this through her THRIVING model, which breaks wellness into seven key principles: Tranquility, Hydration, Renewal, Investment, Vitality, Emotional Wellbeing, and Self-Care.
Adedokun urged women to adopt the 3-2-1 system for better rest, no food three hours before bed, no work two hours before bed, and no screen one hour before bed, a practice that promotes mental calm and physical renewal.
She concluded: “Success is not about how much we achieve, but how well we sustain our health and peace while doing so.”
Addressing the tension between ambition and domestic stability, educationist Alhaja Romoke Adedokun tasked women to pursue their professional goals without emotionally neglecting their families.
Her paper, “Blending Career Pursuit with Family Life,” cautioned against measuring success solely by wealth or public recognition, urging attendees to value peace, humility, and family unity.
“True success is not one that distances you from your family, but one that allows you to grow together with them,” she stressed.
Adedokun advised that professional life should not intercept personal life, assuring women that with the right priorities and boundaries, it is possible to succeed at work and still be present at home. She recounted how resilience guided her from civil service to building a respected educational institution, starting with just 23 pupils.
Also speaking, Ibukun Akinola, Co-Founder and Director of Payments at PiggyTech Global Limited, urged women to embrace peer mentorship as a realistic model for professional development, noting that current professional goals differ significantly from those of previous generations.
“My mentors are my peers, the people I grow and learn with,” she shared, drawing from her journey from failed startups to the success of PiggyVest.
Further emphasizing professional growth, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, represented by Cynthia Akhagbeme-Simeon, highlighted that mentorship must be coupled with the deliberate pursuit of education and credentials.
Closing the cycle from passion to profit, media personality and CEO of Dara Naturals, Amanda Dara, encouraged women to find purpose through consistency and authenticity.
“Purpose is discovered in motion. You can’t find it by waiting; you find it by doing,” she stated, challenging young women to innovate rather than imitate, and ensuring that passion creates value people are willing to pay for.
Participants left feeling inspired and equipped. Mrs. Seidu Raheemat noted the fresh perspectives on originality in business, while Miss Ijeh Tolulope described the conference as an “eye-opener” that motivated her to live more intentionally.
The emphasis on self-care was highlighted as the most impactful takeaway by Mrs. Ogochukwu Ozioma, underscoring the success of the conference in shifting the narrative toward sustainable, holistic success.