Tech executives, traditional leaders, industry pioneers and thought leaders gathered at the Fabac Centre on Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, for the presentation and review of The Woman I Have Become, a new memoir by Forbes-featured technology leader and global executive, Dr. Adeshola Cole-Alegbe.
The event provided a platform for candid reflections on resilience, personal transformation and leadership, while also examining the growing influence of technology on culture, business and society.
The programme featured a keynote address by Her Majesty Queen Ashley Afolasade OjajaOgunwusi and a review of the memoir by journalist Olufemi Odeyemi.
In The Woman I Have Become, Cole-Alegbe chronicles her difficult journey from childhood adversity to professional success. She recounts being placed in private foster care in the United Kingdom at the age of two, where she endured severe childhood abuse, before experiencing another major upheaval following her relocation to Nigeria in 1993.
Speaking about the motivation behind the memoir, Cole-Alegbe said grief played a significant role in prompting her to tell her story.
She recalled receiving negative feedback at various stages of her life, saying such experiences ultimately strengthened her determination to overcome obstacles and turn them into stepping stones.
According to her, a closer relationship with God and the deliberate choice to surround herself with positive and purposeful associations played important roles in her personal transformation.
Cole-Alegbe also revealed plans to launch youth-focused empowerment initiatives as part of her strategic roadmap for 2027, anchored on a “catch them young” philosophy.
Reviewing the book, Odeyemi described the memoir as a “deeply gripping, raw and unforgettable” account of triumph over adversity.
He said the book offers readers an inspiring roadmap to success and self-discovery, drawing from Cole-Alegbe’s experiences and the lessons she gained from overcoming significant challenges.
In her keynote address, themed around Influence, Technology, Responsibility and Impact, Queen Ashley Afolasade OjajaOgunwusi urged leaders, entrepreneurs and young professionals to deploy emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to create lasting legacies rather than merely pursue visibility.
She noted that influence in the modern era should not be measured solely by titles, followers or name recognition, but by the positive changes generated by an individual’s presence.
According to her, while technology can amplify influence, only purpose can transform influence into meaningful and sustainable impact.
The traditional leader also stressed the importance of preserving cultural identity amid rapid technological advancement, arguing that embracing innovation should not require the abandonment of heritage.
She maintained that tradition and innovation could coexist, adding that history and cultural heritage could be integrated into the digital economy rather than erased by technological change.
She challenged participants to consider three key questions when navigating digital transformation: “What do I know? Who can it help? And how can technology help multiply that impact?”
The event also featured discussions on the relationship between human creativity and emerging technologies, with speakers highlighting the growing importance of prompt engineering—the ability to frame precise questions and instructions to obtain more accurate and actionable results from AI tools.
However, participants cautioned against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence, warning that uncritical reliance on technology could undermine critical thinking and encourage mental laziness.
Speakers stressed that the more important question should not simply be what AI can do, but what real-world problems individuals and organisations can solve with the technology.
Captain Dele Alegbe, husband of the author, attended the event in support of Cole-Alegbe and delivered the vote of thanks at the close of the programme.
The event ended with calls on established industry leaders to create pathways for emerging talent, mentor young professionals and leverage their platforms to promote sustainable development and greater impact across Africa’s digital economy.