Ex-Supreme Court Justice Augie Shares Inspiring Health Battle, Calls for Self-Growth Among Women

At the 24th Annual Conference of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), held in Lagos on Thursday, participants were encouraged to embrace authenticity and self-driven growth.

Delivering the keynote address, retired Supreme Court Justice Amina Augie urged women to view themselves as their only competitors, noting that personal growth begins when one stops comparing with others.

The event, themed “O.W.N – Own. Walk. Nurture,” drew together women leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond to share insights on leadership and empowerment.

Justice Augie shared her personal journey of resilience, revealing that she lives with temporal arteritis, a rare autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the blood vessels. She said she chose to attend the conference despite health challenges because she wanted to “own her story.”

“Every human being must understand this: never start hating or competing with anyone. You are your only competitor,” she said.

She explained that the real contest in life is within against one’s fears, comfort zones, and excuses. “You were born with your own skills, gifts, and abilities. You’ve faced your own battles and must rise above them,” she added.

Justice Augie cautioned women against envy and rivalry, describing them as “cages we build for ourselves.”

“If you’re confident in who you are, you’ll lift others without feeling threatened. Everyone’s journey is unique if they lived yours, they might not survive; if you lived theirs, you might not either,” she said softly, drawing nods and quiet emotion from the audience.

In her remarks, WIMBIZ Board Chair, Bisi Adeyemi, said the conference called women to “stand firmly in their truth and pave the way for others,” stressing that each person’s story is powerful not because it’s perfect, but because it’s authentic.