London in early October belonged to African women in leadership. Across three days, the FLAIR Global Summit, themed around the impact and resilience of the continent’s First Ladies and the women who work beside them, moved from the corridors of Westminster to the trading floor of the London Stock Exchange and on to the ballroom of The Dorchester. Representing Exquisite Magazine and ELOY Foundation throughout was its founder, Dr Tewa Onasanya, whose message in every room was the same: ambition is abundant, and what women need is the confidence, structure and visibility to act on it.
Westminster: A Mindset Shift
The week opened on Monday 5 October with a breakfast launch meeting in the Cholmondeley and Terrace Rooms at the House of Lords, hosted by Baroness Verma of Leicester on behalf of the FLAIR Summit in partnership with MOJEC.
Speaking there, Dr. Tewa Onasanya called for “a huge mindset shift” in how women see themselves, urging more confidence, measured mentorship and greater visibility. Her reminder that “visibility is self-care for your business or your career” resonated with a room full of women who know the cost of staying quiet.
That afternoon she joined the summit’s VIP reception at the London Stock Exchange, where she was a guest at the Market Close ceremony and the ringing of the closing bell. It was a fitting image for the week: African women in leadership, standing at the heart of global finance.
The Plenary: Health as Access, Prevention and Dignity
Dr. Tewa Onsanya’s next appearance was on the plenary stage, where she led the Health, Wellbeing & Stronger Communities conversation, joined by Paula Briar, Dr Ijeoma Joseph-Ebare and Adam Williams. She framed healthcare around access, prevention and dignity, and pushed the discussion towards practical solutions with women and girls at the centre.
The Flair Gala
The week closed with the FLAIR Gala Dinner & Awards at The Dorchester, an evening dedicated to celebrating African women in leadership. For Dr Onasanya, who also founded the ELOY Awards Foundation, recognising achievement is central to the work, because seeing one woman succeed shows the next that it is possible.
Her presence at each of these moments reflected what Exquisite Magazine stands for: women building thriving careers while looking after their wellbeing, and doing both with visibility.
