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The Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB) has recounted its achievement of empowering women in the banking and finance sector, as it is set to mark her four decades anniversary.
Themed, “Banking on Women – Imperatives for a sustainable future,” demonstrates APWB’s dedication to both having more women in leadership and making sure banks follow good practices As Funke Feyisitan Ladimeji APWB chairperson said, “the evolution of leadership for the rapidly changing economic, geopolitical and socio-cultural landscape” is at the heart of their mission.
This evolution is evident in the rise of female leaders across the industry. From boardrooms to executive suites, women are no longer the exception, but the driving force behind innovation and growth. The numbers speak volumes: a surge in female bank MDs, a growing presence on boards of directors, and a wave of talented executives steering major financial institutions.
The association is the female wing of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the body that represents Bankers in Nigeria.
Ladimeji, said the association was formed at a time when females at senior levels in professional spheres was very rare.
She stated this during a press conference towards the 40th anniversary event in Lagos recently, the anniversary celebration is scheduled to hold on Monday, December 18, 2023 at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
She said “From the pioneering step of creating this association at a time when senior females in professional spheres was very rare, right through to the strategising, framing and positioning required by the founding mothers and our predecessors, to sustainably position female bankers for leadership, through to today, and the evolution of leadership for the rapidly changing economic, geopolitical and socio-cultural landscape, that we are all experiencing. All of these and more, are captured in the journey of APWB.”
The chairperson noted that women bankers have distinguished themselves and have been taking higher responsibility in the industry as demonstrated by women on the boards of some financial institutions in Nigeria.
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She said, “A lot has been achieved, but we are not at the end journey. It is important to recognise what has been achieved so far. This year, we have many female managing directors.
She said that in the last three years, there’s been more female managing directors than before such banks as Citibank, FSDH, TitanTrust, FCMB and much more “In addition to that, we have many female executives on the boards of banks. We have a number of female non-executives as well.”
She added, “I think a lot has been achieved. There’s no doubt in my mind that having a diverse board and entity, having a diverse bank in terms of gender, makes a fundamental difference in terms of progress and perspectives you have at the table. Much has been achieved, we’ve come a long way. We have a lot of female leaders across the board at different levels of leadership all contributing significantly. And I believe there is a lot more to come.”
“As women, our natural preserve is the ability to multitask. What we have today is an understanding of what women bring to the table. And because of that understanding, there is a lot more push to make sure we have diversity and inclusivity. Outside Nigeria, we have Nigerian women that are making waves; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohammed and many others. The women are adding value.
She said that women bankers in Nigeria and in financial services are ready for the top job, and indeed many are already in top job, locally as well as globally.
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The chairperson encouraged young female bankers just starting their careers to join the association. She said there are programs and initiatives that are curated just for them.
“We find out what you like doing and put you on whatever you like doing, we expose you to what it means to be a rounded banker, also to other bankers, workshop leaders, and to mentors,” she said.
Some of the dignitaries expected at the anniversary are Tony Elumelu CEO/ chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa Plc and Transcorp, Bola Adesola, Chairman Ecobank Nigeria, Temi Dalley, Talent professional, Lanre Olusola, an executive coach and many more.
