WIMBIZ marks 25 years with women’s wellness campaign

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Twenty-five years after it was founded to advance women in management, business and public service, Women in Management, Business and Public Service is urging women to place their health alongside their professional ambitions, arguing that sustained leadership begins with personal wellbeing.

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The organisation marked its silver jubilee on Saturday with WIMBIZ Fit at 25, a global health and wellness initiative that brought women together for aerobics, wellness talks and networking across the country.

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At the Five Cowries Jetty in Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, the message unfolded through movement. As the sun rose over the waterfront, the venue gradually filled with women dressed in black fitness outfits and trainers.

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Music from the DJ filled the waterfront as participants gathered for warm-up stretches before the aerobics sessions began. The mood was lively, with women laughing, encouraging each other through the exercises and catching up with friends between sessions. Beyond the workouts, the event also provided a networking opportunity, while brands displayed their products and interacted with participants around the venue.

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Celebrity fitness coach, entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Pure Fitness Africa, Ekemini Ekerette, popularly known as Kemen Fitness, led one of the workout sessions, guiding participants through energetic routines that combined exercise with entertainment.

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WIMBIZ Executive Director Omowunmi Akingboghugbe said the initiative was designed to celebrate the organisation’s 25-year journey while reminding women that caring for themselves should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of professional success.

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“Women are saddled with numerous responsibilities, including domestic duties, and must learn to juggle these without neglecting themselves,” Akingboghugbe said.

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She said the free event was intentionally opened to members and non-members to encourage more women to embrace healthier lifestyles while creating opportunities for meaningful networking and relationship building.

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The importance of regular physical activity formed the centrepiece of a wellness session delivered by a Medical Practitioner Leadway Health HMO, Dr Cyprian Ememe, who spoke on The Power of Body Movement for Professional and Business Women.

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Ememe said women often devote their energy to leading organisations, running businesses, raising families and supporting communities while neglecting their own wellbeing.

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“As professional and business women, we wear many hats. We are CEOs, team leads, mothers, wives, daughters, and community builders. We meet deadlines, close deals, and still show up for everyone who needs us,” he said.

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He urged women to view movement beyond conventional gym workouts, describing it as simple daily activities such as walking between meetings, stretching at work, dancing at home, or taking the stairs instead of the lift.

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According to him, regular movement improves energy levels, enhances sleep, sharpens mental focus, and builds the resilience required for effective leadership.

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“You cannot give your best to your business if your body is running on empty,” Ememe said.

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Former WIMBIZ Chairperson and member of the Board of Trustees, Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, said the programme reflected the organisation’s longstanding commitment to inspiring, empowering, connecting and advocating for women.

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“This is WIMBIZ’s 25 years of inspiring, empowering, advocating and connecting. We want to inspire women to take care of their health in a fun way and empower them with the knowledge and tools to continue these practices at home,” Ihyembe-Nwankwo said.

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She said bringing women together to exercise, dance, laugh and build friendships reinforced the importance of creating communities where women support one another while embracing healthier lifestyles.

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“What better way to bring women together than on a beautiful Saturday morning to exercise, bond, dance, laugh and sweat together?” she said.

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According to Ihyembe-Nwankwo, the initiative was also designed to promote a culture of wellness, increase awareness of WIMBIZ among prospective members, reconnect with existing members and build momentum ahead of the organisation’s annual conference scheduled for November.

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Reflecting on the organisation’s evolution, WIMBIZ Co-founder Adeola Azeez said the vision had always been to build a national institution with global relevance.

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“From the beginning, we wanted WIMBIZ to have a national outlook, which is why our early conferences were held in Abuja rather than being Lagos-centric. Over the years, leadership has transitioned seamlessly through strong corporate governance, ensuring the organisation remains vibrant and relevant,” Azeez said.

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She said WIMBIZ is now registered in both the United Kingdom and the United States, has established a growing presence in Ghana and has members across the world.

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“To date, WIMBIZ has directly reached tens of thousands of members and impacted hundreds of thousands of women globally,” she said.

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Founded in 2001, WIMBIZ is a non-profit organisation that promotes and supports women in management, business and public service through leadership development, mentorship, advocacy and networking. The organisation believes greater gender diversity in leadership contributes to stronger institutions and more balanced decision-making.

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