Cambridge, United Kingdom | 9 June 2026 – Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, First Lady of Kwara State, Founder of the Ajike People Support Centre, and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum (NGSF), has been honoured with the Global Power Impact & Legacy Award at the Global Power Women Forum (GPWF) Cambridge 2026 in recognition of her exceptional contributions to women’s empowerment, inclusive governance, public service and sustainable community development.
The two-day Global Power Women Forum was convened by the Centre for Economic & Leadership Development (CELD) in strategic collaboration with Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, and hosted by Dr. Ibifuro Ken-Giami, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CELD and Publisher of Amazons Watch Magazine. Held under the theme, “Women-Powered Economies: Capital, Trade & the Future of Economic Governance,” the Forum brought together influential women leaders, policymakers, diplomats, academics, business executives and development partners from across the globe to advance dialogue, strengthen partnerships and promote innovative approaches to inclusive economic growth.
The Forum commenced on Day One with the GPWF Private Networking Mixer & Partnerships Dinner, an exclusive gathering that provided a platform for high-level networking, strategic conversations and relationship-building among international delegates, government representatives and institutional stakeholders. Day Two featured the Opening Plenary: Women, Power & the Architecture of Global Economies, followed by the Insight-to-Action Roundtable, National Showcase – Women-Powered Economies in Action, Market Access, Trade & Capital Pathways, and culminated in the presentation of the Global Power Impact & Legacy Honours. Collectively, the sessions reinforced the central role of women in driving economic transformation, strengthening institutions and shaping the future of global governance.
Speaking during the Forum, Ambassador Professor AbdulRazaq highlighted the remarkable progress recorded in Kwara State through deliberate policies that have expanded women’s participation in governance and decision-making. She noted that sustained advocacy contributed to the election of five women into the Kwara State House of Assembly, the enactment of the 35 percent women inclusion law, and the appointment of women to 50 percent of the State Executive Council.
She also showcased the impact of the Ajike People Support Centre, which has transformed thousands of lives through programmes focused on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, education, healthcare interventions and social protection. She emphasised that inclusive policies, strategic partnerships and sustained investment in women remain essential to accelerating sustainable development and creating broader economic opportunities.
In her capacity as Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum, she further highlighted collaborative initiatives advancing legislation, advocacy and public awareness on sexual and gender-based violence, maternal and child health, women’s political participation and economic inclusion across Nigeria.
Presenting the Global Power Impact & Legacy Award, the organisers recognised Ambassador Professor AbdulRazaq as a visionary leader whose commitment to public service and gender advocacy continues to deliver measurable impact at both the grassroots and national levels. The honour celebrates leaders whose work shapes public policy, strengthens institutions and inspires future generations of women leaders.
The Forum welcomed an exceptional assembly of global leaders, including Her Excellency Diana Nausėdienė, First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania; Hon. Dr. Emma Kantema (MP), Namibia’s Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare; Baroness Sandy Verma, Member of the UK House of Lords; Her Excellency Mrs. Sara Amani, Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Kingdom; Mrs. Oghogho Gwabin Musa, Co-Founder of the Christopher Oghogho Foundation; Ann Cotton OBE, Founder and Chair Emerita of CAMFED; Rachel Blackburn MBE, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of US2U Consulting Ltd; Dr. Renuka Thakore, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Sustainable Futures Network CIC; Mrs. Nanna Sylla Coulibaly, Vice President of WIC Côte d’Ivoire; Mrs. Zeinabou Sidibé, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Afrisends; Professor Tolullah Oni, Clinical Professor at the University of Cambridge and Founder of UrbanBetter; Joan Asante, Managing Director of The Asante Group; Professor Ronita Bardhan of the University of Cambridge; Professor Fawzia Rasheed of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Tililenji Phiri, Cambridge Commonwealth Scholar; Professor Elizabeth Garnsey, alongside numerous distinguished representatives from government, academia, business and civil society.
The Global Power Women Forum Cambridge 2026 concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening international partnerships that advance women’s leadership, expand economic opportunities and foster more inclusive, resilient and prosperous societies across the world.
About the Global Power Women Forum (GPWF)
The Global Power Women Forum (GPWF) is a premier international leadership platform convened by the Centre for Economic & Leadership Development (CELD) in strategic collaboration with Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. The Forum brings together influential women leaders, policymakers, diplomats, business executives, academics and development partners from around the world to foster dialogue, promote strategic partnerships and champion transformative solutions that advance women’s leadership, economic inclusion and sustainable development.
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