The much-talked-about 7th Annual Conference of the MATA Network, a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering girls and women, took place on Saturday in Kano, bringing together participants from across northern Nigeria for a day focused on leadership, growth, and collaboration.

The conference, themed “She Leads. She Lives. She Thrives”, aimed at equipping women with practical knowledge to advance their careers, strengthen their businesses, and expand their networks.

Organisers noted that the gathering was designed to help women lead with clarity, build confidence, and thrive in a rapidly evolving society.

MATA Network founder Yasmin Obadaki said the organization had recorded significant progress since its inception, growing from a small group of women to a strong and expanding network.

She acknowledged the collective effort of members, partners, and sponsors in sustaining the initiative over the years.

“Seven years doing this with you — it’s been amazing. We started with less than 15 women, and today we are more than 200,” she said.

SolaceBase reports that the participants described the conference as timely and impactful.

One of the participants, Jamila Bashir Ibrahim, said the turnout showed how committed northern women were to personal and collective development.

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She explained that such platforms encourage women to support one another and push for progress.

She stated that, “The way women from different parts of the North came together is highly impressive.

“It shows that women are not left behind, and any woman who missed this event missed a lot.”

Another participant, Saudat Saleh, noted that the conference would help women strengthen their business ideas, networking and expand their professional circles.

“This kind of gathering builds confidence, improves networking, and nurtures business aspirations,” she said.

Over the years, MATA has implemented mentorship programs, business coaching, and leadership sessions that have supported hundreds of women and girls.

The 2025 conference further reinforced its mission to empower women and create opportunities for growth across northern Nigeria.