The recently concluded Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Festival 2015 was certainly well attended. Taking off on Thursday, 25th June at the Landmark Centre  in Lagos, the WOWe festival attracted seasoned entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts from diverse fields. The attendees were served with valuable insights and life lessons at the event’s different sessions and master classes.

Montgomery West Africa, hosts of WOWe 2015, boasted of it being the largest gathering of female entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in West Africa. Among the successful business leaders that imparted the audience at the WOWe 2015 with practical information to transform businesses, are local and international entrepreneurs, brand ambassadors, and influencers of Nigeria’s dynamic entrepreneurship landscape.

Well, if you missed it, here are some of the valuable insights that those lucky attendees went home with:

When you seek to make the people around you joyful, they go the extra mile before you ask. It doesn’t matter how good you are people want you to focus on them. Much is possible in Nigeria by Nigerians inspite of Nigeria.
When the journey to sucess gets hardest that’s the moment to decide to keep going. It is supposed to be hard, that is how you know it is real. Hope is the one thing that is inexhaustible – Chude Jideonwu, Co-founder Red #Media delivering the keynote address at the opening session.

Speed is critical to turning vision to reality as an entrepreneur – Mr Lere Bale, Chief Executive Officer, Business School Netherlands

Capital is not always the challenge for entrepreneurs but the lack of access to resources. Lack of access to market and information are other factors militating against women entrepreneurs. Adoption of technology is a critical factor for women entrepreneurs today. Have a very strong marketing strategy. Be creative in your approach to solving problems as a business. – Mary Olushoga, Founder, AWP Network

Good enough is not really good enough for where we want to be in our business. The real entrepreneur must have the courage to address the fear of fear. Successful entrepreneurs are people oriented. Alhaji Aliko Dangote shared with me that every day his focus is to solve problems. You must celebrate where your passion comes from – Dr Wuraola Abiola, Managing Director Management Transformation

Raise your Aspirations. Look for Appropriate partners. Be flexible in Attitude – Tokunboh Ishmael, Co-Founder & MD, Alitheia Capital

Starting a business in Nigeria or any part of the world has its own challenges. You need to find your niche, to be positioned to turn your business vision to reality –Eniola Karunwi, CEO, Cambridge Weight Plan

When it comes to makeup, it is not about skill, it is about positioning and branding. Stay consistent; when you are consistent, people will look for you. Stay true to your service. Understand your market, before you put clothes out there. You need to understand demand and change in trends. What is your distribution channel? You have to know the answer. You have to know your competitors. Do up a competitive analysis.
Business owners, get knowledge about your brand and business, don’t rely on your staff only. Going into Fashion Design requires passion. It has to be something you want to do. Stay true to yourself, and stay on course. Provide a service people can use, at the right time. Branding, customer service and research are very important in any business – Panelists at the Fashion and Beauty workshop

Focus on branding before marketing – Wana Sambo, CEO Wana Sambo Clothing

You must develop your self-confidence to overcome external obstacles and challenges in business. We started with 2, 000.00 NGN and I am glad that we were stubborn – Seun Abolaji, Co-founder Wilsons Juice Co while telling his start up story

Cultural stereotypes is one challenge women entrepereneurs face “turning vision to reality – Christianne, SheLeads Africa.
If you do not do something no one would believe in you. Take practical steps. Do it! Jump! Make it happen! Start something! – Lala Akindoju, Nollywood Actress

Mentorship is key to pulling through challenges, because you learn and get inspired – Foluke Aboderin

Seperate the cash flow of your business from personal expenditures – Mr. Olowo, Head of SME at Ecobank Group

Hire people with similiar experience to run your company – Bilikiss Adeyeni, CEO & Co-Founder Wecylers

Among other speakers that graced the event are Kemi Ajumobi, Head of Health at Businessday&Living; Fayo Williams, President Networks of Entrepreneurial Women; Joy Isi Bewaji, Media Entrepreneur & Author; Mrs. Bukky Karibi Whyte Public Relations Consulant The Bobby Taylor Company; Ruth Obih CEO 3Invest Nigeria; Stephen Akintayo CEO Gtext Media and Investment Limited; Kemi Adetiba, Film Maker; and the power list goes on and on…

Read: African Woman Entrepreneur Opens Store In Silicon Valley

The next edition is surely one to look forward to, don’t you agree?

(Photos courtesy @WOWe_Africa)