Aisha Adamu… Supporting women navigating change with the bridge
For Aisha Abdullahi Adamu, the idea of The Bridge, a leadership conference that has transformed into an exclusive luxury brunch for women navigating change, is to create and develop a place where vulnerability is celebrated and strength is found in gentleness. A sanctuary that invites women to shed their armours and simply be; a haven where the beauty of human connection is nurtured, and the power of gentle moments is cherished; where softness is revered, stories are shared with empathy and understanding, and silence is a comforting balm for the soul.
The intimate gathering, which is an initiative under the Aisha Cares Programme, emphasises reflection, renewal, and vulnerability; replacing speeches with storytelling by creating a space for women to connect over shared experiences, thus challenging the traditional notions of leadership and in replacement, finding power in community and presence.
This year’s edition, the second since it started, with the theme, ‘Celebrating Our Passage on the Bridge’, saw over 220 remarkable women gather in Abuja on Saturday, May 24, to connect, share their stories of vulnerability and celebrate their strength.
Designed as a society brunch, a gathering for extraordinary women who are crossing life’s many bridges, undergoing career shifts, identity shifts, motherhood, grief, healing, and growth, the convener, Aisha, in her opening remarks, noted: “The Bridge is created to honour the transitions that don’t make it to Instagram, the quiet crossings, the sacred stretch between who you were and who you are still becoming.
“The Bridge is never about applause, but about arrival; about grief that went unseen, joy that was delayed, and strength that no one clapped for. It is about choosing yourself again and again even with shaky hands.”
According to Aisha, this year’s theme was born out of a reflection of last year’s conference, where a bridge of information was built but not of connection.
“This year’s edition was designed as a society brunch, a gathering for extraordinary women who are crossing life’s many bridges, undergoing career shifts, identity shifts, motherhood, grief, healing, and growth,” she said.
Earlier in an interview, Aisha, who is also the Executive Director of New Age Group and founder of Ivory Conglomerate, reflecting on the inspiration behind the creation of The Bridge, said: “The Bridge is not just an event, it’s a sacred pause. It’s where women come to lay down their armour and pick up their truth — a space where we are allowed to just be without titles, without pressure.
“Life doesn’t slow down for women; we are constantly becoming mothers, leaders, daughters, nurturers, entrepreneurs, all at once. I wanted us to gather in truth and tenderness, not to perform, but to reflect. So I created The Bridge. It was inspired by my own need for such a space — a need I sensed echoed in the lives of many women I love and admire.
“At The Bridge, we trade performance for presence. It is a sanctuary for softness, for storytelling, for silence when needed. It’s a gathering not about status, but about substance. It’s a space of witness and wonder, where every story matters, and no transition is too small to honour. It’s where the masks come off and the light gets in.
“It’s not about arrival; it’s about honouring the becoming. Beyond the aesthetics, it’s a gentle rebellion against the performance culture that demands we always show up polished and perfect.”
Aisha noted that beyond serving as a brunch, The Bridge is a love letter to becoming, a mirror for healing, and a sacred space for truth. And unlike the traditional conference that is often with knowledge but not always with nourishment, its different format — brunch — makes it deeply feminine and luxuriously intentional.
“The brunch format allows for elegance, depth, and soul-stirring conversations in a setting that honours both our brilliance and our vulnerability. Every flower, every song, every silence is part of the architecture of healing,” Aisha said, adding that she wanted women to feel celebrated, seen, and safe.
The Bridge 2025 featured an impactful keynote address by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who offered timeless life lessons on dependability, integrity, goal setting, and the importance of drawing vision boards that involve family.
She emphasised that honouring one’s parents, saying “no” to preserve freedom and celebrating both small and big wins are key to leading a meaningful life. “Invest in people, even for free. Always make others feel important,” the minister advised.
With soft music, handwritten prompts, and shared stories, the event offered an atmosphere of vulnerability and celebration.
The centerpiece of the experience included the Memory Bridge Wall — not a mere décor, but an emotional archive where women anonymously hung personal reflections, what they’ve crossed, what they are releasing, and what they want to remember; the Bridge Toast — anchored by the convener, saw the participants raise their glasses in honour of the women they have become and an opportunity to speak courage over what lies ahead; and live storytelling rounds featuring 10 deeply inspiring women who took the stage as storytellers, each sharing a piece of their passage across life’s bridges.
This powerful lineup included Adanma Okoro Ekedebe, COO of UNNO Health Group; Dr. Mariya I Abdullahi, Chairperson of High-Level Women Advocates (HiLWA) on Girl Child; Dr. Hilda Ashio Titiloye, Founder and Group CEO of UNNO Health Group; Ruqyya Tofa-Basheer, Founder of Raw Beauty, Ummi Foundation and ABBA; and Aisha Abba Kyari, a Public Wealth Management Professional.
Others were Rukkaya Mohammed, Founder of REEDAS/ SEE by Rukkayah; Zara Muhammad Buhari-Indimi, Founder of ZMB Homes and In Conversation with Zahra; Olu Olufemi-White, CEO Alami Capital; Aisha Falke, founder of Northern Hibiscus; and Lanre Da Silve Ajayi, Creative Director of LDA.
The event was also graced by distinguished special guests including Hauwa Indimi, CEO of Thel; Aisha Sani Dangote, CEO of Ayce Gelato; Zainab Zira, Senior Regulatory Officer of NUPRC; Hajia Ramatu Dalhatu Musa, former National President of National Council of Women Societies in Nigeria; Princess Nikky Onyeri, Secretary General of the Association of Women Traditional Title Holders in Nigeria; Hajia Khadija Abdullahi Adamu, founder of Child Rights Foundation; Mrs. Cecilia Philips Dada, Proprietress Business Entrepreneur; Hafsat Almakura; Nneamaka Okafor, Special Adviser and Communication to the Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil); Hajia Hauwa Abdullahi Albashir; Dupe Olusola, CEO of DOVA Capital, whose presence brought warmth and inspiration to the room.
