…Fidelity Bank MD delivers bold career insights to LBS alumni
As part of celebrations for this year’s International Women’s Day and in a push to create a more inclusive and equitable society, women are being urged to seize new opportunities and empower themselves to bridge the country’s gender gap.
The London Business School (LBS) Alumni Community Nigeria hosted an intimate brunch and fireside chat with Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the group managing director and chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank Plc to deliver bold career insights.
Onyeali-Ikpe shared powerful reflections on her trailblazing journey to becoming the first female CEO in Fidelity Bank’s history. Recounting the challenges of rising through the ranks in a male-dominated industry, she spoke with conviction about the mindset that propelled her forward.
“I have personally never acknowledged the gender glass ceiling in my career—or in anything in my life,” she said. “When something looks like a barrier, I see it as motivation to go even harder.”
Her story, marked by resilience and a refusal to be boxed in by stereotypes, offered inspiration to many of the women in the room.
She emphasised that success comes from talent, consistency, discipline, and the willingness to take bold steps—even when failure feels like a possibility.
Read also: Who is afraid of Fidelity Bank?
“Don’t fear failure. It’s part of the process,” she added. “Every misstep has taught me something that helped me get better.”
Onyeali-Ikpe also spoke about the importance of balance, acknowledging that modern women often juggle many roles from business leader to caregiver. “Learning to balance family and career is not just important for business success, it’s important for success in life,” she said.
While celebrating the progress made in recent years, she called for more action to ensure true gender equity across sectors.
“Today, 11 of Nigeria’s 26 commercial bank MDs are women. That’s progress, but we must not stop there. We want to see that number go to 14, 15 and beyond.”
She expressed admiration for the strength of the LBS alumni network in Nigeria and was visibly delighted to be in the company of such high-calibre women. “I’m truly impressed by
the quality of professionals in this network,” she said. “It’s refreshing and inspiring to see so many women leading with excellence.”
In a time when gender parity remains a pressing issue globally, the event served as both a celebration and a reminder: women are not just part of the story, they are leading it.
As a community, we’re not just talking about change—we’re building it,” said Akintayo Sanwo-Olu, President of the LBS Alumni Community in Nigeria. “At LBS, we are committed to empowering more women to lead across industries and actively changing the narrative around gender and leadership.
London Business School (LBS) is a world-renowned institution known for shaping global business leaders. With alumni in over 150 countries.
Its alumni network in Nigeria is particularly vibrant, comprising distinguished professionals, executives, and industry leaders who are committed to excellence and societal impact.
