On the second day of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the Handshake Summit & Awards convened over 200 distinguished leaders at the UN Church Center in New York.
Operating under the theme “Advancing Women’s Influence in a Changing World,” the invite-only gathering served as a direct, action-oriented response to the urgent calls for gender equality issued earlier that day from the UN’s highest podium.
The summit transformed the UN’s opening clarion call into a concrete blueprint for action. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had set the stage, declaring that “gender equality is and always has been a question of power,” and warned that despite decades of advocacy, “justice remains a distant dream for millions upon millions of women and girls.”
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous reinforced the urgency, noting the session was taking place against “a time of multiple global crises,” where peace eludes us and the world is “extremely and increasingly fragmented.”
It was into this gap between aspiration and reality that the Handshake Summit stepped. Moving beyond traditional diplomatic dialogue, the evening was engineered to forge verifiable partnerships and celebrate the architects of a new, prevention-centered global future.
As UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock asserted, “Justice around the world demands the active choice to believe survivors… and dismantle systems that perpetuate abuse and discrimination.” The Handshake Summit was designed to do just that.
Produced by the Semaform Foundation and ConcordeApp, the event was a seamless journey from high-level discourse to decisive action.
The evening commenced with a red-carpet reception hosted by Mariama Sahid, Founder of SHE4Peace, setting a tone of refined purpose.
A Welcome from the Heart of Community Leadership
In her opening remarks, “From Intention to Alliance: The Architecture of the Global Handshake,” Her Excellency, Mrs. Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) and Wife of the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria, grounded the evening’s high-tech focus in the essential work of community and family.
“It is my profound honour to stand before you today at this landmark gathering,” Mrs. Disu stated. “To be surrounded by such formidable leaders, innovators, and advocates for gender equality is both humbling and inspiring.”
She continued, framing the essential role of institutions like POWA in the global architecture of the handshake: “POWA’s work is rooted in compassion, service, and community development.
My vision is to strengthen our impact by expanding partnerships, supporting initiatives that uplift women economically, and contributing meaningfully to national and global conversations around gender equity and community resilience.
The handshakes made in rooms like this must translate into tangible support for the families and communities we serve on the ground.”
Following this powerful call for ground-level impact, Ebaide Omiunu, Founder of The Ebaidebheki Initiative (TEI), who served as Host, set the evening’s strategic tone.
“We heard Secretary-General Guterres loud and clear: progress is won, not given,” Omiunu asserted. “This is our arena to win it. Tonight, we move from intention to handshake, from advocacy to alliance. We are not just talking about change; we are signing the agreements that will execute it.”
The AI & Impact Showcase: From Protection to Power
A pivotal moment was the “AI & Impact Showcase,” featuring a keynote by Crystal Renouf, CEO of TheMothershp™. Renouf unveiled the transformative potential of prevention-centered AI, directly addressing the systemic failures that leave women vulnerable.
“Secretary-General Guterres spoke of discriminatory laws and patriarchal norms that endure. Our institutions are built on that legacy, designed to react to crisis rather than prevent it,” Renouf explained.
“We are building the AI middleware that transforms these systems from reactive intervention to measurable prevention, securing not just data, but justice, dignity, and opportunity.”
The High-Level Panel: Deal-Making for Women’s Prosperity
The high-level panel, “AI-Driven Climate Leadership & Deal-Making for Women’s Prosperity,” moderated by systems innovator Chaste Inegbedion, explored how digital trust infrastructure can unlock capital for women-led initiatives.
The discussion featured a powerful cross-section of leaders, including Kome Igbogidi (ServiceNow), Richard Ojuri (M&T Bank), Joy Osomiamhe-O (World Energy Council), Charlene Nichols (Omniverse City), Jessica Sophia Wong (Yorkeed), Lisa Francoeur (Crypto Tutors) and Adiya Uri Ngozichukwuka (Consultant & Development Strategist).
Inegbedion framed the challenge, stating, “We are moving past the era of fleeting networking. To answer the UN’s call for dismantling systems of abuse, we must build new systems of value. At ConcordeApp, we are transforming professional relationships into verifiable, fundable capital.
The handshake is now a data point that unlocks economic opportunity.”
Panelists echoed this focus on tangible outcomes, each addressing the “question of power” from their unique vantage point.
Kome Igbogidi of ServiceNow called for humanity at the heart of innovation.
“As enterprise AI leaders, the real value of a conference isn’t the conversations you start, it’s the follow-through you automate. The organizations that win are the ones that turn inspiration into intelligent workflows before momentum fades.”
Lisa Francoeur, Secretary of Education for the NYS Advisory Committee on Cryptocurrency and Digital Finance, grounded the discussion in policy and workforce development.
“Government and industry must move in lockstep. With initiatives like DeFi All Odds, we are building the enterprise-ready talent pipeline that will ensure women are not just users of the future economy, but its architects.”
Joy Osomiamhe-O emphasized the need for interoperable systems to turn climate promises into prosperity.
“We cannot have a digital leap if our climate finance systems cannot talk to each other across borders. When Secretary-General Guterres speaks of women holding only 64% of legal rights, we see that reflected in their inability to access cross-border capital. True prosperity lies in building ecosystems, not islands.”
Charlene Nichols, CEO of Omniverse City, broadened the scope to narrative authority. “Power in the 21st century will belong to those who control the narrative.
By leveraging immersive digital ecosystems, we give women-led ventures the tools to tell their own stories on a global stage, catalyzing collaboration and challenging the patriarchal norms that have silenced them for too long.”
Jessica Sophia Wong, Founder of Yorkeed, highlighted the importance of relationship capital in a fragmented world. “In an era of multiple global crises, as Sima Bahous described, connection is our greatest asset. My work is about building the global infrastructure—across 50 cities and 100+ events—where founders and funders can find each other. It is in these intentional spaces that the handshakes leading to peace and prosperity begin.”
Richard Ojuri of M&T Bank grounded the discussion in community and economic reality. “The fight for gender equality cannot be won in the abstract; it must be won on Main Street. As a banker, I see every day that when women-owned businesses succeed, entire communities are lifted. Providing them with strategic, relationship-driven financial solutions isn’t just good business—it’s the most direct form of community development there is.”
Adiya Uri, a development strategist and author, brought a crucial perspective on bridging high-level policy with on-the-ground realities. “As we architect these global handshakes, we must ensure they are built on a foundation of inclusive development strategy,” Uri said. “My work with Empathy Driven Women International Initiative (EDWIN) has shown me that true sustainability is achieved when we center the most vulnerable—women with disabilities, girls in remote communities. The most sophisticated AI tool or financial instrument is only as powerful as its ability to include those who have been systematically excluded from the architecture of progress.”
The Human Residue: Connection in a Digital Age
The evening’s Fireside Chat, “The Human Residue,” featured a powerful dialogue between creative executive Elley Cheng and global empowerment leader Tera Carissa Hodges. Their “Humanity Game” interactive session reminded attendees of the irreducible value of human connection in a digital age, ensuring the technology on display remained in service of human dignity.
The Handshake Moment: A Symbol Sealed
The symbolic “Handshake Moment” saw representatives from government, the private sector, and civil society solidify their pledges on stage, a direct rebuttal to the Secretary-General’s lament that “inclusion is proclaimed, yet women are absent from negotiating tables.”
The Handshake Awards: Honoring a Legacy of Action
This momentum was carried into the prestigious Handshake Awards Ceremony, which honored ten distinguished leaders whose work exemplifies the summit’s mission of turning advocacy into action. The awards were presented by Amb. Dr. Linda Middleton of the Kaleidoscope Business Project and Dr. Prince Ero Ibhafidon of the Waterlight Save Initiative/I-HEAL, underscoring the summit’s commitment to sectoral collaboration.
The 2026 Handshake Honorees represented a tapestry of global leadership:
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria, was recognized for institutional leadership in advancing gender equality and national welfare policies.
Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed Sowa, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the United States, was honored for diplomatic excellence and fostering international cooperation for sustainable development.
Her Excellency Ambassador Erelu Ngozi Abeni Adeleke was recognized for her tireless advocacy in global diplomacy and cultural representation.
Dr. Kingsley Ighobor of the United Nations was honored for Strategic Communication Leadership and his role in shaping global developmental narratives.
DCP Dr. Oki Emesem Rita Oyintare, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Nigeria, was recognized for her pioneering leadership in security, justice, and the protection of women’s rights.
Tolani Alli, Creative Campaign Coordinator at The World Bank, was recognized for her visionary storytelling and leadership in global developmental communication.
Mamotake Matekane, COO of MGC Matekane Group of Companies, was honored for her leadership in showcasing how youth-driven innovation is a catalyst for economic transformation across Africa.
Ambassador Mrs. Billy Umar Garba of Platinum View Inc., Los Angeles, was recognized for excellence in executive leadership and international business relations.
Two moments of profound resonance came from honorees whose careers embody the very architecture of the global handshake.
Dr. Padmini (Mini) Murthy of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), recognized for her global leadership in women’s health and medical education advocacy, spoke to the intersection of health, technology, and human rights.
“For three decades, I have worked at the intersection of maternal health and human rights, and I have learned that health is the ultimate currency of equality,” said Dr. Murthy. “As we integrate AI into healthcare, we must ensure it serves as a bridge, not a barrier. This award is not for me, but for every woman whose access to dignity and healthcare has been denied by systems that forgot she existed. The Handshake Summit reminds us that our handshake with technology must be guided by a steady pulse of compassion.”
Hawa Taylor Kamara Diallo, retired United Nations Official and Founder of the IBTK Foundation, was honored for a lifetime of service to global humanitarian efforts and community foundation building. Known affectionately across decades as “Aunty Hawa,” her presence brought the history of the UN’s work on women into the room.
“Nearly 40 years at the United Nations taught me that the most powerful resolutions are not written on paper, but in the lives we touch and the hands we lift,” said Diallo. “I have watched this world change, and I have watched it stubbornly refuse to change in the ways that matter most for women and girls. Tonight, seeing this room—brimming with young leaders, with technology, with fire in their eyes—I am filled with hope. The handshake I receive tonight is a passing of the torch. My life’s work has been to build the foundation; yours is to build the skyscraper. Go high, and take everyone with you.”
A Call to Execution
Esteemed guests throughout the evening, many wearing all shades of red in a powerful visual statement of unity and power, included Richard Iyasere, Superintendent with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and a Nigerian music industry executive, whose presence bridged the worlds of infrastructure, culture, and activism.
The Handshake Summit concluded not with an ending, but with a call to execution led by Gail Davvis-Carter, Co-Executive Director supporting the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals. Inspired by her work with Quincy Jones and NetAid, Davvis-Carter rallied attendees to action.
Attendees were directed to a signing station to formalize “Partners in Progress” commitments via MOUs and LOIs, and to join a working group dedicated to tracking the progress of the pledges made. As the networking reception echoed with Afrobeat fusion, one thing was clear: on a day when the United Nations framed the struggle for gender equality as a fight for power itself, the Handshake Summit provided the battleground—and the blueprint—to win it.
The evening was brought to life through the visionary design of Robert Osborne of Visual Relics Media and Creative Director Temitayo Daniel, whose culture-driven aesthetic ensured every visual element amplified the message of intention, alliance, and enduring impact.
By Chaste Inegbedion
