Women and young professionals will converge in Lagos on October 24 for the third annual SpeakHER Conference, with this year’s event focusing on communication, negotiation, advocacy and leadership.
The conference, themed ‘S.A.Y. – Speak. Amplify. You.’, will hold at The Dome, This Present House, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Organised by SpeakHER, the conference is expected to feature practical learning sessions, panel conversations, networking opportunities and the Speakathon, a platform that gives women and girls the opportunity to speak publicly on issues they consider important.
According to the organisers, the 2026 edition is designed to address some of the challenges women face in communicating their ideas and advocating for themselves in professional, business, community and public spaces.
The conference will feature two major practical sessions: ‘Room Ready: The Negotiation Edge’ and ‘The Signature Speaker.’
The negotiation session will examine self-advocacy, persuasion and negotiation, with emphasis on helping participants navigate spaces where important decisions are made.
The Signature Speaker session, meanwhile, will focus on effective communication and public speaking, including how participants can communicate with greater clarity and confidence in meetings, interviews, panels, on stage and in front of cameras.
The Speakathon will be another major feature of the conference. Emerging speakers are expected to address issues across four areas: Leadership and Governance; Women’s Health and Wellness; Advocacy; and AI and Digital Transformation.
Speaking ahead of the conference, SpeakHER Co-founder, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, said the initiative was established to help address the gap between having ideas and being able to communicate them effectively.
‘Women have ideas, ambition, and the capacity to lead. What can sometimes be missing is the confidence, skill, or opportunity to communicate those ideas when it matters most,’ Akinkugbe-Filani said.
She said the S.A.Y. theme was intended to encourage women to speak with confidence, amplify issues that matter to them and participate actively in spaces where their voices can influence outcomes.
Also speaking, Co-founder Ayo Mairo-Ese said the conference would go beyond encouraging women to speak by helping them develop the skills to use their voices effectively.
‘Speaking up is only the beginning. We want women to recognise the value of their voices, develop the skills to use them effectively, and understand that their perspectives can shape the spaces they occupy,’ Mairo-Ese said.
She added that the 2026 conference would create opportunities for women to step forward, be heard and translate their voices into meaningful action.
The organisers said the conference is targeted at professional women, entrepreneurs, advocates, emerging leaders and young professionals interested in developing their communication, negotiation and leadership skills.
SpeakHER, whose mission is ‘Shaping Narratives. Inspiring Change,’ runs initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for women and girls to communicate, advocate and participate in conversations affecting their workplaces, communities and futures.