About the opportunity
The fully funded, 12-month WomenLift Health Nigeria Leadership Journey delivered in partnership with WILAN Global is designed to provide talented women leaders in health with the safe space to explore their authentic leadership through vulnerability and reflection, an inclusive and diverse network which fosters a strong sense of belonging, tools and strategies for enhancing their voice, presence, and influence – all the while being supported by a powerful group of peers, mentors, and coaches. The program imparts contextualized tools and frameworks to address the individual, institutional, and health sector challenges that women leaders in global health face today. Participants engage in two in-person experiential learning residencies (Immersion and Lift-Off), in addition to virtual learning touchpoints, group mentoring, one-on-one coaching, and a self-directed Health Leadership Project.
Funding and benefits
- Free program participation with all program costs covered, including travel and lodging for in-person residences
- Tailored leadership training and curriculum designed in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
- Virtual group mentoring sessions with senior-level health leaders
- One-on-one executive coaching sessions supported by leadership style assessments and a 360-rater evaluation
- Participation in two mandatory in-person experiential learning residencies (Immersion and Lift-Off)
- Guidance and resources to design and implement a self-directed Health Leadership Project
- Membership in a lifelong network of global fellows, allies, and advocates upon successful completion
Who can apply?
- Identify as a woman
- Demonstrate fluency and confidence in both written and verbal English communication, including emotional articulation and reflective dialogue
- Be a citizen who resides and works within Nigeria
- Live in WAT (+/-1 hour) time zones for at least 75% of the leadership journey
- Be a mid-career leader with 10–25 years of work experience in health++ (spanning interconnected fields such as climate change, food systems, agriculture, water and sanitation, education, economic policy, gender equity, and technology)
Required documents
- Completed online application form
- Letter of recommendation from a supervisor, senior organizational leader, or a health community leader with working experience with the applicant
When to apply
- Applications close on September 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM
How to apply
- Review key program resources, including the FAQ, Journey Framework, and Health Leadership Project guidelines
- Prepare application responses showcasing original thinking, personal experience, and clear goals without over-relying on automated AI tools
- Secure and prepare a letter of recommendation from a supervisor or senior leader
- Submit the online application form along with all required materials before the application deadline
Additional information
- Delivered in partnership with implementing partner WILAN Global and sponsored by the Gates Foundation through the New Venture Fund.
- The 2027 cohort will include 30 women leaders in health++ working in Nigeria.
- All program touchpoints and in-person residencies are mandatory to attend.
- In-person residencies include a 3-day Immersion (July 28–30, 2027, with travel days on July 27 and July 31, 2027) and a 2-day Lift-Off (April 26–27, 2028, with travel days on April 25 and April 28, 2028).
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Mid-career women professionals with 10 to 25 years of work experience in health++ fields such as climate change, agriculture, education, or technology based in Nigeria.
- Candidates seeking a structured hybrid leadership program that includes executive coaching, peer mentoring, and a self-directed Health Leadership Project.
What should you think carefully about?
- Applicants must commit to attending all mandatory program touchpoints, including two specific in-person residencies in Nigeria with preset travel dates.
- Participants are required to live within the WAT (+/-1 hour) time zone for at least 75 percent of the 12-month journey.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This fully funded 12-month journey is designed to support mid-career professionals looking to enhance their voice, presence, and influence within the health sector. It fits well into a mid-career plan for someone aiming to build a lifelong professional network, develop contextualized leadership frameworks, and execute an independent Health Leadership Project without incurring personal training or travel costs.
Our take
Mid-career women health leaders residing and working in Nigeria who can fully commit to the hybrid schedule and mandatory residencies should strongly consider applying. Those unable to meet the geographic and time zone residency requirements will find it unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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