It is a real fact that women move things when they come together. This was just the case at the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos, where women entrepreneurs and business leaders converged to discuss those issues that continue to hinder African women from achieving their full life potential.

The two-day AWIEF conference was founded by Ethiopian entrepreneur, Irene Ochem with the theme: Investing in Women Entrepreneurs, unleashing Africa’s Economic Growth. With many accomplished entrepreneurs and women leaders on the different panels, conference delegates and visitors were served a rich mix of wisdom and experience.

The good news is that if you were not there, you can still be inspired with this compilation of quotes from AWIEF 2015:

“We must move women-owned businesses from the informal to the formal sector. And it is not necessarily about policies; register your business, don’t trade in your name, and have a designated office even if in your home” – Adjaratou Ndiaye

“To secure the future, we must investigate why our present is the way it is. The girl child is key to the development of every nation” – Oby Ezekwesili

“Africa will only make progress when the continent agrees that the citizens, and not oil, copper, or gold, are the cream of the land and its premium assets” – Oby Ezekwesili

“Women with new businesses should be wary of trying to make a big impression with resources that they don’t have. We made those mistakes.” – Audrey Ezigbo, Co-founder Falcon Corporation

“Gender inequality is caused in part by women’s inability to get funding for their businesses. This in turn is due to the men who collect these monies from their wives to use for other purposes” – Jide Akintunde, CEO Financial Nigeria International

“You hear of women-focused meetings all the time, but the world is not putting their money where their mouth is. Women matters still lack funding” – Adjaratou Ndiaye, Dep. UNWomen Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS

“Education is at the heart of human progress, it thus follows that any effort that targets less than half of a nation’s populace is insignificant” – Oby Ezekwesili, World Bank former VP, Africa region

“Get the best people to handle your business. Work with an expert for business knowledge” – Shimite Bello, President QBWA Nigeria.

“Poor girl child education is the foundation of gender inequality” – Oby Ezekwesili

“If women will go far, they need to go together” – Ndidi Nwuneli, Founder LEAP Africa and Co-founder AACE Foods

“To be a change agent, you must desire to make a difference” – Ndidi Nwuneli

“Technology can accelerate your business either positively or negatively, depending on the decisions you make’ – Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, GM Enterprise Marketing, MTN Business

“Don’t just be seen as a pretty face, competence is key if you will hold your own in a male-dominated workplace” – Audrey Ezigbo

“Women must step back from the stereotypes and evaluate their peculiar situations. Stereotypes give you a certain mindset and prejudices” – Audrey Ezigbo

“About spousal support, there is no template. Learn the best way to present things to your spouse; husbands need to be carried along and the home not neglected” – Audrey Ezigbo

 Albeit, most of these quotes are female-focused, they can still be distilled to help entrepreneurs stay focused and make wise decisions.