On Friday, March 21, a private gathering of women who work in media, PR, and journalism was held at a cozy Italian restaurant in the heart of Victoria Island.
The intimate dinner event was hosted by Lady Kay, a multimedia journalist and startup storyteller, who won a micro-grant award from the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub to plan and execute the event. In addition to the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, the dinner event was also supported by Tech4Dev, a non-profit social enterprise, and Wetech Women Foundation, a women-owned non-profit community for women.
The dinner hosted 20+ women who function at the intersection of technology and business in media, journalism, and PR roles. Two representatives from the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Oyinkansola Akintola-Bello and Oyindamola Eyitayo, were present at the table, along with Isioma Utomi of Women Who Launch.
Why this gathering of women matters to Nigeria’s technology ecosystem
Women journalists, PR professionals, and reporters play an often underrated and overlooked role in shaping narratives around technology and business in Africa. While it is common knowledge that the technology and business industry is male-dominated, not enough media publications and PR agencies are hiring women reporters and writers to both cover the industry and write about women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and founders.
Women in media, journalism, and PR often navigate unique challenges, from limited access to key decision-makers to industry biases that shape how stories are told. This private gathering was an opportunity for women covering these sectors to connect, share experiences, and explore solutions to improve visibility, access, and impact.
Highlights: honest conversations and open discussions about support and allyship
The evening was more than just a networking opportunity—it was an open forum where real challenges were discussed in an honest and safe environment. Lady Kay opened the dinner with icebreakers to warm the guests up and get them feeling comfortable enough to speak freely, ask questions, and connect with other women at the table.
The icebreaker session segued into roundtable discussions about professional challenges, editorial practices, gender equality issues in the ecosystem, and opportunities for technology and business journalists and PR professionals to work together. A few conversations touched on:
- The growing mistrust between technology journalists and founders and the ways we can work together to bridge the gap and encourage more open conversations between both parties. There is a clear need for stronger relationships between female media professionals and female founders and entrepreneurs.
- The dinner guests also explored storytelling initiatives that could increase the coverage of women entrepreneurs and executives, emphasizing that more visibility leads to more opportunities.
- A major theme of the night was the importance of working together rather than in silos. Many of the journalists left with new contacts and a renewed commitment to collaborating on stories, PR opportunities, and media features.
The next step forward
By the end of the evening, there was a true sense of solidarity and refined purpose where business storytelling and career progression are concerned. Every dinner guest agreed that this should not be a one-off gathering but the beginning of a stronger network of women committed to positively changing the way technology and business are reported in Africa.
With support from organizations like the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Tech4Dev, and Wetech Women Foundation, gatherings like this women’s dinner will continue to create pathways for increased visibility, better representation, and stronger industry relationships.
As one attendee put it, “When we come together like this, we remind each other that we are not alone. And together, women can tell better stories about technology, business, and leadership.”
