The group made the call at its 2026 Annual Public Lecture in Ado-Ekiti, where it also inaugurated a new executive committee and inducted new members.
The State Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, reinforced the message in a paper she delivered at the forum titled: “Breaking Barriers and Navigating the Double Bind in the Workplace.”
She said qualified officers should be allowed to contribute meaningfully to the public service without being constrained by gender stereotypes and unfair expectations.
Olomojobi stressed that employees should be assessed on competence, experience, integrity and performance, not on stereotypes or personal assumptions.
She encouraged women to strengthen their technical knowledge, communication, strategic thinking and leadership skills, document their achievements, seek mentorship and respond professionally to criticism.
The Head of Service cautioned, however, that serious cases of harassment, discrimination and victimisation should not be left to individuals to handle through personal resilience alone.
She urged EKWIM and other institutions to promote mentorship, monitor workplace progress and strengthen policies against discrimination, harassment and bullying.
In a goodwill message, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and former Head of Service of the State, Dr Olapeju Babafemi, advocated gender inclusion, equal opportunities and supportive workplace policies to advance women’s leadership.
The former commissioner commended EKWIM for empowering female officers and mentoring emerging leaders.
She lauded the outgoing Coordinator, Dr Oyeyemi Kayode-Ojo, for her achievements over a five-year tenure.
Babafemi also applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration for promoting gender inclusion, particularly by appointing women to decision-making positions in the public service.
Reflecting on the lecture’s theme, the former Head of Service observed that women in leadership often face conflicting expectations to be assertive yet accommodating, ambitious yet modest, and competent without appearing intimidating.
She said overcoming such barriers requires more than individual resilience, as it calls for fair promotion opportunities, inclusive leadership, supportive policies and workplace cultures that prioritise merit over gender stereotypes.
Babafemi urged women to recognise their worth, uphold integrity, support one another and use their influence to create opportunities for others.
In her keynote address, the outgoing Coordinator of EKWIM, Dr Oyeyemi Kayode-Ojo, said double standards often cause firmness to be mistaken for arrogance and gentleness for weakness.
The outgoing coordinator urged women not to let such stereotypes discourage them from pursuing leadership positions but to demonstrate competence, build strategic relationships and support one another.
According to her, women can be firm and compassionate, decisive and kind, while remaining committed to their professional and family responsibilities.
Kayode-Ojo recalled that EKWIM was inaugurated on March 11, 2021, by Erelu Bisi Fayemi, wife of the then governor, alongside Babafemi, who was Head of Service at the time.
The outgoing coordinator said the organisation was established to mentor female officers for leadership positions and promote improved service delivery.