WIPIA launches at Goals House during UNGA, championing women in African philanthropy

Held at the prestigious Goals House, the event convened philanthropists, business leaders, and influential women from across the globe, all unified by a shared mission to drive transformative change in Africa.

Founded by three visionary African women—Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, Chairperson of The Nigeria Philanthropy Office; Dr. Sindy Zemura-Bernard, CEO of the Southern Africa Embrace Foundation; and Dr. Anino Emuwa, M.D. of Avandis Consulting and Founder of the Africa Women CEOs Network—WIPIA is dedicated to advancing gender-focused philanthropy on the continent.

With only six years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and none of the targets for SDG 5—gender equality—being met, WIPIA’s debut comes at a critical juncture.

Co-founder Dr. Emuwa stressed the urgency of the initiative, stating, "Gender equality is essential for advancing the SDGs. WIPIA is dedicated to ensuring that gender perspectives are woven into all actions and policies around catalytic philanthropy."

WIPIA’s mission is to leverage women's leadership in philanthropy to direct funding toward impactful, inclusive solutions that drive sustainable change. 

The initiative will focus on vital areas such as closing gender and digital gaps, promoting social entrepreneurship, advancing education for all, and fostering climate solutions.

Nigeria's Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, delivered an inspiring address, underscoring the essential role of women in Africa's development.

She noted, "Africa can only thrive when we empower women, as they form the backbone of our communities. Launching WIPIA is a pivotal step toward developing not just communities but the entire continent."

The event also featured powerful contributions from global leaders, including Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy, who called for more gender-focused philanthropy.

In a panel discussion, Almaz Negash, CEO of the African Diaspora Network; Melissa Stevens, EVP of Philanthropy at the Milken Institute; and Wanjira Mathai, MD Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute, explored how philanthropy can drive scalable impact across Africa.

The panel was moderated by CNN Senior Africa Editor Stephanie Busari, with Tola St. Matthew-Daniel serving as event host.

Dr. Sindy Zemura-Bernard, one of WIPIA’s co-founders, described the launch as a historic moment: “The launch of WIPIA at Goals House on the sidelines of UNGA79 by three women of African descent will be remembered as the start of an unprecedented catalytic change in gender-focused philanthropy across Africa."

“By mobilizing the right capital through key collaborations, we can make significant strides over the coming years,’ added  Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, highlighting WIPIA’s strategic role in advancing conversations on channeling catalytic capital for women and girls.

According to her, “WIPIA is poised to be at the forefront of this transformation.”

As WIPIA embarks on its mission, it is set to bridge funding gaps, create systemic change, and promote a more equitable, sustainable future for Africa.