ICW 2026: ICF Nigeria targets 500 leaders to drive influence-based leadership in Nigeria
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) Nigeria Chapter is targeting about 500 leaders and professionals at the 2026 International Coaching Week (ICW), as it intensifies efforts to promote influence-based leadership across Nigeria.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) Nigeria Chapter is targeting about 500 leaders and professionals at the 2026 International Coaching Week (ICW), as it intensifies efforts to promote influence-based leadership across Nigeria.
The International Coaching Week (ICW) 2026 is a global event held simultaneously in 99 countries dedicated to promoting the value of coaching through conversations, learning sessions, and shared experiences. In Nigeria, the week-long programme will run from May 11 to May 17, 2026, with a flagship conference in Lagos, on 12th May, 2026 themed “From Authority to Influence: Coaching as a New Leadership Currency.”
The event is expected to bring together participants from different sectors, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, public officials, and young professionals, as organisers push to make coaching more visible and widely adopted in leadership spaces.
Speaking ahead of the event, Charles Okeibunor, president of ICF Nigeria, Chapter, said the initiative marks a deliberate shift from previous editions, which were smaller and mostly attended by coaching professionals.
“We are opening the conversation to everyone. We want bankers, engineers, journalists, lawyers, entrepreneurs and professionals from all walks of life, to understand what coaching is and how it can support them in becoming better leaders and decision-makers.”
Okeibunor explained that coaching is often misunderstood, describing it as a structured conversation that helps individuals think clearly, solve problems, and make informed decisions. Unlike mentoring or consulting, he said, coaching does not involve giving advice but instead focuses on helping people find their own answers.
Themed: “From Authority to Influence: Coaching as a New Leadership Currency”, the president stressed that the theme of the conference reflects an important shift in leadership thinking. According to him, many leaders in Nigeria still depend heavily on authority, which may deliver some results but not sustainably.
“Authority can make people obey you, but influence makes people believe in you. People can obey you without believing in you. But people cannot believe in you without obeying you. So, If you want lasting success, you must go beyond giving instructions and start exploring potentials ,” he said.
To explain further, he compared human potential to natural resources, noting that Nigeria’s population is one of its greatest assets. “There is so much potential in people, but if leaders do not know how to develop it, it remains unused. Coaching helps you discover and grow that potential,” he added.
The ICW 2026 programme will include a keynote address, a CEO/C-Suite roundtable, Masterclasses, Fireside conversations and interactive sessions. The masterclasses will cover topics such as resilience, artificial intelligence, building a coaching culture, and scaling a business. There will also be networking opportunities for participants to connect and share ideas.
Habiba Balogun, a trustee of ICF Nigeria and an organisational effectiveness expert, said one of the major problems in many organisations is that people are promoted into leadership roles without proper preparation on how to manage others.
“Being good at your job does not automatically make you a good leader. Leadership is about people. It is about motivating, inspiring, and helping others perform at their best,” Balogun stated.
She explained that many leaders rely on their position to get things done, but this approach has limits. “When people follow you only because you are their boss, they will only do the minimum. But when they trust you and believe in you, they will go the extra mile,” she said.
Balogun added that coaching helps leaders build that trust and develop strong relationships with their teams, noting that coaching supports leaders in raising other leaders, which is important for long-term success.
Janet Adetu, executive and leadership presence coach, said the conference will provide practical tools that participants can apply immediately to their work and daily lives.
She said coaching helps leaders discover areas where they need improvement, even when they believe they are already performing well. “There are things you may not know about yourself. A coach holds up a metaphorical mirror that enables you see those things and improve them,” Adetu asserted.
According to her, participants will learn key skills such as active listening, emotional intelligence, empathy, and how to build trust. She explained that these skills are important because leaders deal with people who have different challenges and expectations.
Adetu shared an example of a leader who supported an employee during a difficult pregnancy by allowing flexible work. She said the support led to stronger loyalty and better performance when the employee returned. “When people feel understood, they are more committed. That is what influence does,” she said.
Patrenia Werts Onuoha, director of marketing and communications at ICF Nigeria, Charter Chapter
On her part, Patrenia Werts Onuoha, director of marketing and communications at ICF Nigeria, Charter Chapter, said the conference aims to change how people see leadership, especially in environments where strict control is still common.
“In many organisations, leadership is still based on force. People do what they are told only when they are being watched,” Onuoha stated.
She explained that this approach does not lead to lasting change, as people often return to their old habits once supervision is removed. “Coaching is different. It creates awareness, builds trust, and allows people to take ownership of their actions,” she explained.
Onuoha added that when leaders create an environment where people feel heard and valued, performance improves in ways that are difficult to measure.
She disclosed that the organisers are using a strategic approach to attract more participants by featuring successful professionals who apply coaching principles in their work. “We want people to see that coaching is already part of many success stories. You don’t have to be a professional coach to benefit from it,” she said.
Drawing from her own experience, she described coaching as a powerful tool for self-awareness and personal growth. “When you understand yourself, you can manage yourself better and relate better with others,” she said.
She encouraged leaders across sectors to attend the event, noting that coaching provides an advantage that helps individuals stand out and achieve more.
As Nigeria continues to face complex economic and social challenges, the organisers believe that developing people through coaching could play a key role in driving progress.
