At Lumos, we believe in empowering every member of our teams. As part of our commitment to gender equality, we celebrate and support women across all levels of our organization, from the Lumos Côte d’Ivoire’s CEO to team members, and our Partners and Delegates on the ground in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire respectively. International Women’s Day gives us a special opportunity to reflect on how women shape our organisation and inspire us to dream bigger. We are proud to share stories of empowerment, determination, and ambition from the remarkable women at Lumos Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, as they reflect the core values we stand for. These women are leading change, defying limitations, and showing the world what’s possible when you go for your dreams.
A Culture of Empowerment and Growth
Lumos provides an environment where women can truly flourish, empowering them to reach their full potential. “Lumos is a company that has opened doors for me and helped me grow,” says Renée Comoë Seka, CEO of Lumos Côte d'Ivoire. “It has given me the opportunity to push beyond my limits and prove that women can excel in all fields, especially in the energy sector where we are often underrepresented.” Reflecting on how Lumos provides a supportive environment, Renée shares how women are able to thrive in sectors where their contributions are often less visible, helping them overcome barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Similarly, for Isoken Ogbaisi, Community Operations Manager at Lumos Nigeria, the dynamic and fast-paced environment at Lumos has been key to her growth. “The Lumos environment and operations are very dynamic and I love the fact that it keeps me on my toes; as we are always working on strategies for continuous improvement to improve overall customer experience and business profitability.” she says. This constant innovation and commitment to progress allows Isoken to lead and contribute effectively, constantly improving both herself and the company.
Thérèse Yome Ayozin, Sales Manager at Lumos Côte d'Ivoire, also highlights how the company supports women in leadership roles. “Lumos has given me opportunities to grow professionally, sit in a leadership role, and build my confidence.” she shares. For Thérèse, she sees how Lumos is actively empowering women by providing them with the tools to succeed. Indeed, she emphasises how Lumos positively impacts women in her community. “Lumos is empowering women with small businesses and education so they can take care of their child,” she says. In a country where reliable energy can be scarce, she sees Lumos providing a transformative solution: “The only serious light those women have seen is the sun, to be able to give them something different from that is a blessing.”
Victoria Ndukwe, Assistant Finance Manager at Lumos Nigeria, loves “this role the most because it has given me a greater opportunity to achieve my career dreams and also an opportunity to act as a mentor to my downliners.” Indeed, Victoria is growing her career while guiding others, helping them unlock their potential and achieve their own professional goals along the way.
Breaking Barriers and Shattering Glass Ceilings
Lumos actively promotes women to leadership roles and encourages them to dream big. After seeing the opportunity to grow her career right from the interview stage, Funmilayo Adelaiye, Partners Coordinator at Lumos Nigeria, noticed how much the company invests in empowering women and helping them build leadership skills: “When I joined Lumos, I was just looking for a job. But it quickly became clear to me that Lumos values women and helps us step into leadership positions. I’ve been given the freedom to make decisions that have a real impact, and this company has provided me with so much encouragement along the way.”
Cynthia Alozie, Technical Inventory Coordinator at Lumos Nigeria, shares how Lumos has empowered her both personally and professionally: “Lumos has empowered me personally by providing professional development opportunities that focus on personal growth such as leadership development, communication skills and time management. Professionally, Lumos encourages a culture of innovation, experimentation and taking calculated risks to foster creativity and growth.” Lumos' commitment to nurturing talent is reflected in its focus on personal and professional development, fostering an environment where employees like Cynthia are empowered to grow, innovate, and take on leadership roles with confidence.
Building Financial Freedom to Create New Possibilities
In addition to empowering women professionally, Lumos helps them achieve financial freedom and independence of thought. Gift Nwaokike, a Lumos Partner in Nigeria who was a student before joining Lumos full time shared that Lumos helped put her through school and made her realise that "I can achieve all my financial goals, it has also taught me independence and made me realise that nothing is impossible. I’ve achieved a whole lot since I joined Lumos personally and professionally."
Similarly, Theresa Nuhu, also a Partner in Nigeria, who used to work in real estate, noted that “I’m earning weekly and monthly, I’m able to support my family and able to clear up my debts.” While Rachel Bage, Partner at Lumos Nigeria who used to teach, supply snacks on demand, and sell other products, reflects on her past struggles: “I used to do three jobs at a time just to make money. I am a very hard-working lady and I have always wanted to make good money. I wanted to liberate myself financially and give my future kids all I never had growing up. When I saw the opportunity and what Lumos had to offer I took it without hesitation.”
Over in Côte d’Ivoire, Delegate Christie Kouacou Adjo Pauline, who used to work in insurance, is able to increase her monthly income, all while feeling empowered “to make projects possible that were thought to be impossible.” As many women at Lumos achieve financial stability, others are actively transforming their financial futures to create brighter tomorrows for their families and turn aspirations into reality.
Women Making an Impact
In the pursuit of creating lasting change, women at Lumos are excelling in their careers and making a significant impact in their communities. Carolle Ayerebi, Customer Care Agent at Lumos Côte d'Ivoire, highlights how Lumos is transforming lives: “Lumos helps to empower women here in Côte d'Ivoire, as many have farms and some have restaurants lit by Lumos. Thanks to Lumos, many women can now start their own businesses, access skilled jobs and become financially independent.” Through these efforts, women are not only changing their own futures but also contributing to the growth and development of their local economies.
Similarly, Delegate Blandine Chancelle, who used to be a teacher and lives in a camp with no electricity, credits Lumos for equipping her with valuable technical experience, including how to set up a solar installation. Despite the challenges she faces, such as installing panels on roofs that are sometimes not very solid, she has developed the skills and confidence to handle these situations with care in order to keep on providing essential power to those who need it most. “I have to be tactful to get there,” she explains, demonstrating how Lumos has empowered her to take on complex tasks, adapt to difficult conditions, and improve lives by bringing reliable energy to families in her camp.
Overcoming Gender Bias
In industries traditionally dominated by men, women at Lumos are breaking through gender biases and proving their abilities every day. Tirenke Diakite, Regional Technical Officer at Lumos Côte d'Ivoire, shares her experience in the field of troubleshooting faulty equipment: “The challenge I face as a woman in the field of troubleshooting faulty equipment is that when some customers meet me, they openly tell me that they'd rather be looked after by a man. I respond with a smile, telling them that I'm capable of solving the technical problem as well as my colleague. Very often the customers leave very satisfied and happy.”
Similarly, Fanelia Diawara, Retention Team Leader also at Lumos Côte d'Ivoire, emphasises Lumos' commitment to gender equality: “Lumos promotes gender equality by offering equal opportunities and supporting the professional development of women.” She also highlights how Lumos has empowered women in the region: “Lumos offers opportunities that enable women to play a key role in the region's energy development.”
In Nigeria, Partner, Princess Aniyangha, shares her experience: "Some of the challenges women face in my line of work are limited networking and mentorship opportunities. Lumos has addressed this by including women in their team Partners Development Managers programme. They mentor you, create a network you can rely on and also help achieve your potential. In Lumos every gender is equal, the opportunity is open to all, irrespective of your gender. In Lumos it's determination and dedication that decides if you stand out or not."
For Emmanuella Odibeli, a Lumos Partner in Nigeria, she acknowledges the challenges women face in the male-dominated solar market. She shares, “The solar market is mostly dominated by men. As a woman, it can be a little challenging trying to get people to believe you actually have adequate knowledge about the product you’re offering them. By carrying out more research about my product and other products, it helps me properly answer all their questions and build their confidence in me and my product.” Through their hard work and determination, these women continue to defy expectations, making valuable contributions to the growth of renewable energy in their communities. Lumos ensures that women are included and equipped with the tools and support they need to thrive, breaking down barriers that have traditionally hindered their success and empowering them to lead the way in sustainable energy.
Embracing This Year's Theme to Accelerate Action
As we reflect on the inspiring stories of women at Lumos, we celebrate their personal achievements and the collective impact they are making in driving forward sustainable energy solutions. This year's International Women's Day theme is Accelerate Action. For Renée, this "is a call to move beyond conversations and drive tangible change. In my work, this means scaling up access to clean energy faster, increasing female representation in leadership, and ensuring that rural women benefit from technological advancements." For Victoria, it's the call "to foster an inclusive culture that values diversity, promotes inclusion and speeds up the momentum of women’s progress in the workforce." At Lumos, we are committed to turning these words into action, ensuring that women continue to lead the way in creating a more equitable and sustainable future. Through dedication, innovation, and collective action, Lumos will continue to champion women’s empowerment and accelerate the progress we’ve already made.
Honouring Kathryn Edionseri’s Legacy
This International Women’s Day, we also remember and celebrate the incredible impact of our dear colleague, Kathryn Edionseri. As the Senior Vice President of Service and Operations at Lumos Nigeria, Kathryn was not only a leader but a mentor, advocate, and driving force behind our commitment to excellence. She was deeply dedicated to empowering her team, ensuring that both customers and employees were at the heart of every decision. Her leadership, resilience, and unwavering dedication shaped Lumos in ways that will continue to inspire us. Kathryn believed in lifting others up, creating opportunities, and setting new standards in service and operations. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on in the people she guided, the vision she championed, and the progress she helped achieve.
