Sony Music West Africa Hosts “In Her Element” to Empower Women in Music and Entertainment

Sony Music West Africa successfully hosted In Her Element, a powerful two-day event celebrating Women’s Month. Held on March 27-28, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, the event brought together leading female executives, cultural leaders, and emerging talents to empower and equip women in the media, music, and entertainment industries. Through panel discussions, mentorship sessions, networking opportunities, and live performances, In Her Element provided a vital space for dialogue, career development, and community building.

The first day of the initiative featured deep-dive sessions on leadership, self-management, content creation, and career growth in the creative industry. Attendees engaged with a lineup of esteemed panelists who shared their expertise and personal journeys. Speakers included Dr. Olori Boye-Ajayi, a renowned strategist and personal transformation coach; Solape Hammond, co-founder of Impact Hub Lagos; and Sola Obagbemi, convener of The Bloom Conversations With Sola. Moderated by Tolu Thompson, discussions covered leadership development, overcoming imposter syndrome, and financial empowerment.

Additional sessions explored the future of work, content creation, remote employment, and entrepreneurship, featuring insights from Adeife Adeoye, founder of Remote WorkHER; Tilewa Odedina, head of Culinary and Restaurants at Food Court; Nonye Udeogu, fashion and lifestyle influencer; and Elechi Bose Oddelm, branding consultant at Printcess. A key discussion on the business of Afrobeats included industry leaders such as Kikelola Ojewale of Dentons ACAS-Law, media personality Moet Abebe, and music executive Sarah Lorentzen, founder of Two Things, who shared expertise on revenue streams, partnerships, and positioning for success in the industry.

On March 28, the energy heightened with a networking mixer featuring live performances from some of the most exciting voices in contemporary African music: Gyakie, Winny, Shoday, Morravey, and Solis. DJ Latitude kept the vibe alive, with hypewoman Melody M.I.A. engaging the crowd.

Sony Music West Africa’s Head of Marketing, Omolola Ige, shared:

“Women in entertainment need platforms, access, and the right opportunities to thrive. In Her Element proved that when those doors open, there’s no limit to what’s possible. At Sony Music, we are committed to seeing more women take on leadership roles in music and entertainment. That means investing in their growth—supporting them in obtaining advanced degrees, professional certifications, and the right training to be the strongest and smartest in every room. This initiative is more than just a moment; it’s a movement, and we look forward to continuing it every year.”

As the next phase of the In Her Element campaign, Sony Music West Africa is launching a mentorship program for women in the creative industry. In partnership with Music Business Academy Africa and Girls in Afrobeats, the program will select 20 aspiring female professionals and pair them with 10 experienced mentors from the United Kingdom and West Africa. This initiative aims to provide hands-on guidance, industry insights, and career development opportunities to support the next generation of female leaders in entertainment.

With support from Pepsi NG, The Guardian, Echo Room, Kairos Hub, Yanga Beauty, Music Business for Africa, 512 Activity, Printcess, Leading Vibe, Red Bull, Food Court, Meji Meji, Miskay Boutique, Printcess, and Art Therapy, In Her Element marked a significant step toward increasing representation and leadership for women in the entertainment industry.