By Rukayat Moisemhe
Mrs Ngozi Oyewole, Continental President, Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW Africa), has urged women-led businesses to intentionally build networks of growth-minded individuals and seek mentorship that fosters discipline, excellence and personal development.
This, Oyewole, said on Sunday during a hybrid CBW Africa training session, would enhance their business performance under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She said the quality of a woman’s environment and the people she surrounds herself with could significantly influence the success or failure of her vision.
According to her, supportive relationships and mentorship provide the encouragement, wisdom and perspective needed to navigate challenges and achieve long-term goals.
“Women must surround themselves with people who expand their thinking and inspire growth, discipline, possibility, learning, excellence and courage.
“Strong environments strengthen vision, while weak environments shrink it,” she said.
According to Oyewole, many women struggle to realise their full potential because they seek approval from individuals who neither understand their ambitions nor share their growth mindset.
She advised women to be discerning about whose opinions they allowed to influence their decisions, stressing that not every viewpoint deserved equal weight.
“There is a difference between seeking wise counsel and seeking constant validation.
“Wise counsel helps refine vision, but constant approval-seeking weakens confidence. Women should seek advice from people who understand growth, think strategically and encourage development,” she said.
The CBW Africa president emphasised the importance of mentorship, describing it as a critical tool for personal and professional advancement.
She urged women to identify mentors and advisers who possessed experience, wisdom and a genuine interest in helping others succeed.
According to her, many fear-based opinions are projections of other people’s limitations rather than an accurate reflection of an individual’s potential.
“Do not allow another person’s fear to become your limitation.
“Some people unknowingly transfer fear through advice by saying things like, ‘that cannot work’, ‘people like us do not do that’ or ‘it is too risky’,” she said.
Oyewole further advised women to protect their mindset from negativity, warning that repeated exposure to discouraging conversations and environments could gradually erode confidence and ambition.
She said confidence grows when individuals consistently take action toward their goals and trust their development process.
“Sometimes your vision will only make sense after progress becomes visible. That is why you must trust your preparation, your learning, your growth and your purpose,” she said.
She encouraged women not to abandon their dreams because of criticism or misunderstanding, noting that visionary individuals were often doubted before their ideas gained acceptance.
“Many women who eventually change industries, communities and generations were first misunderstood before they were celebrated.
“Do not shrink your future because someone else lacks the imagination to see what you can become,” she said.
Oyewole urged women to remain focused on their purpose, build supportive networks and pursue their visions with courage and confidence.
She said women who protected their dreams and chose their influences wisely were better positioned to create lasting impact in their communities and beyond. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa