In a bold and historic move, Sanicle—a femtech leader at the intersection of health innovation and gender equity—successfully hosted the first-ever 3-in-1 event at the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), combining the Femtech Hackathon, NOVA Awards, and Beyond Beijing 30 Summit under one umbrella. The event convened global changemakers, government officials, corporate leaders, and nonprofit advocates to advance women’s health, economic empowerment, and leadership on a global stage.
Held at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the summit commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, uniting voices from across sectors and continents. The gathering was co-hosted by UNA-Nigeria, the UNESCO Center for Peace, IBTK Foundation, Femtech Weekend, The Real Studios, AfricaTech NYC, Luz Maria Foundation, and Columbia’s Pan-African Network (SPAN).
“Wow, that’s a lot of women.” Arriving at Columbia SIPA for the Sanicle-hosted Beyond Beijing 30 Summit, the sight was powerful. “And now I’m one of them.” Stepping out of the car, a wave of belonging washed over me. Surrounded by women—and supportive men—all gathered for the singular mission of advancing women worldwide, the feeling was surprisingly grounding amidst the crowd. In a world often feeling precarious, the summit offered a stark contrast, reminding us: the narrative is finally shifting, far more are advocating for gender equity than we think, and now is the time to harness that momentum. As Chaste Inegbedion reflects in his Amazon bestselling book Bomesi, “Women still need a forum to discuss the intractable issues their foremothers confronted decades ago.” Bomesi isn’t just a book; it’s a blueprint. It reminds us we can each create environments where success thrives, where equity is structural, and where power, opportunity, and prosperity know no gender limits. That’s what I witnessed at Beyond Beijing 30—living proof that the future is here, led by women actively creating it.
Shaping a Global Agenda for Equity
The summit featured keynote addresses from Hon. Dr. Isata Mahoi, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Minister for Women Affairs, alongside other dignitaries including Lady Tee Thompson and leading voices from across the UN system.
Dr. Mahoi highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to gender parity, including allocating 22% of the national budget to education, investing in STEM programs for girls, and launching microfinance and vocational initiatives. “Creating opportunities for girls to dream, learn, and lead is not just a policy priority—it is a moral imperative,” she said.
Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim, honored with a NOVA Award, emphasized the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities women face in conflict and disaster-prone regions, particularly in urban slums. “This recognition strengthens our resolve to build inclusive urban governance and gender-responsive climate strategies,” she noted.
“This award is not just for me; it is for the countless women and girls across Nigeria who inspire us every day with their resilience and strength. While we acknowledge the progress made, we must also confront the stark realities: the heightened vulnerability of women and children during disasters, the struggles faced in urban slums. This recognition strengthens our resolve to address these challenges head-on. Our commitment to the Global Cities for CEDAW Coalition is unwavering, and we will work tirelessly to create inclusive urban governance and climate action strategies. This is a moment of celebration, yes, but also a moment of rededication to the work ahead, for Nigeria’s women and for a more just society.”
Honoring Trailblazers and Innovators
The NOVA Awards, sponsored by Sanicle.Cloud and IBTK Foundation, celebrated distinguished leaders advancing gender equity. Honorees included diplomats, technologists, health professionals, and grassroots advocates such as:
• Dr. Padmini Murthy, Global Health Director at New York Medical College
• Mariama Sahid, Advocacy Officer for the Young Women in Democracy Forum
• Richard Iyasere, community leader and MTA Superintendent
• Abisoye Oloruntoba, fintech executive with leadership roles at JPMorgan and Wells Fargo
• Ambassador Shāna Boutté, a mental health advocate and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
These awardees were recognized not only for their accomplishments but also for their sustained efforts to drive systemic change beyond 2025.
From Policy to Practice: Panels and Hackathon Drive Action
The summit addressed real-world challenges through strategic discussions and innovation platforms:
• The Femtech Hackathon, themed “Empowering Women’s Health in the Workplace in the Digital Era,” brought together tech innovators to design AI-driven solutions addressing menstrual and menopause-related absenteeism.
• The Sanicle.Cloud panel, led by Chief Period Officer Chaste Inegbedion, explored how AI can reshape workplace policies to accommodate women’s health needs.
• The UNA-Nigeria panel, moderated by Dr. Omopeju Afanu, tackled financial inclusion and economic barriers women face, emphasizing the need for equity-centered financial solutions.
• IBTK Foundation’s panel focused on strategic partnerships for workforce readiness, while the Vivacity panel discussed the role of AI and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in driving equity.
Zhu Yihan, Founder of Femtech Weekend, underscored the urgency of creating inclusive digital health tools: “Technology must reflect real women’s experiences, not replicate outdated biases.”
A Call to Collective Action
The event’s green and gold theme symbolized renewal and strength, reflected in both the attire and the ambitions of its participants. Guy Djoken, Executive Director of the UNESCO Center for Peace, urged sustained activism: “True progress requires collective action and shared responsibility.”
Sanicle recently engaged in significant global platforms, contributing to shaping strategies for women’s economic inclusion and leadership at a UN Global Compact convening at the Yale Club, including the “Women Rise for All” session led by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed. Simultaneously, Sanicle actively participated in Google Next 2025, highlighting its message on leveraging technology and equity to advance women’s health.
Tolulope Lewis-Tamoka, Chief of Governmental Relations & Africa at the UN Global Compact, stated: “Gender equality is not just a right; it is the foundation of a sustainable world.”
Looking Ahead to UNGA80 and Beyond
Insights and outcomes from the Beyond Beijing 30 Summit will be presented at the World Bank Spring Meetings and the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA80) in September 2025, aligning with key milestones:
• Five years remaining to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• 25 years since UN Resolution 1325 recognized women’s role in peacebuilding
• 30 years since the original Beijing Declaration
The summit also introduced a critical seventh pillar to the Beijing+30 agenda: engaging working women and male allies to foster inclusive environments across all sectors.
As Seneca Forch, Vice President of Columbia’s SPAN, put it: “Progress isn’t built alone—it takes shared purpose, persistent effort, and an unwavering commitment to uplift others. We must lift as we climb.”
For more, watch the events highlights on YouTube:
As the curtains closed on Sanicle: The Workplace Flo—a historic first-of-its-kind 3-in-1 experience at UN CSW69 that brought together a Femtech Hackathon, Nova Awards, and the Beyond Beijing+30 Summit—one thing became clear: the future of workplace equity is no longer theoretical. It is being built now, by governments, corporations, and nonprofits willing to challenge outdated norms and invest in inclusive innovation. From Columbia University to the global stage at the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, the call for systemic reform echoed loud and clear. By addressing menstrual and menopause-related absenteeism through platforms like Sanicle.Cloud, stakeholders demonstrated that transforming health equity is not only a gender mandate—it’s a global economic strategy. As leaders reconvene to define the next chapter in sustainable development, Sanicle’s initiative stands as a model: one that turns policy into practice, insight into infrastructure, and intention into impact.
