Leading Ladies Africa partners banks on women’s leadership

A women-focused nonprofit and media organisation, Leading Ladies Africa, has partnered with Regal by Providus Bank and FirstBank of Nigeria to host its inaugural Women in Finance Breakfast Forum, where stakeholders pushed for women’s leadership through financial and product inclusion.

At the event held in Lagos on Thursday, the founder of Leading Ladies Africa, Francesca Uriri, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to advancing gender-inclusive leadership and equity for African women and girls.

The Women in Finance breakfast forum is a high-level convening of female leaders, policymakers, government officials, and civil society groups within the finance sector aimed at facilitating dialogue and developing a framework for advancing gender-inclusive leadership, financial inclusion, equity, and economic justice for women within the finance industry.

In her opening remarks, Uriri said, “Our mission has always been clear: to advance gender-inclusive leadership, equity, and socioeconomic justice for African women and girls through programmes, corporate events, content creation and development, advocacy, and communications campaigns. Today’s forum is yet another step in that journey.”

The first panel session, titled ‘Women’s Economic Power: Dismantling Gender Norms and Stereotypes,’ moderated by Chief Executive Officer of Shecluded, Ifeoma Uddoh, examined the challenges and opportunities women face in the financial sector while exploring strategies to dismantle entrenched gender norms and stereotypes.

The panellists were Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities, Uche Uzoebo; Chief Customer Experience Officer of Interswitch, Oremeyi Adeola Akah; and Advocacy Lead of Enhancing Financial Inclusion & Advancement, Nigeria, Chinasa Collins Ogbuo.

Speaking at the event, Akah said women are capable of great competence when given the right encouragement and stimulation. She noted, “Get them to a level where they are educated as much as can be encouraged. Encourage the ones that want to read and want to go to school. Then in school, let us have a curriculum that does not segregate.”

She emphasised the need for education and celebration of female leadership. She shared her aspiration through the acronym ‘RISE,’ advocating a world that will recognise, include, support, and impart equality for women.

Uzoebo added that women are capable of achieving great things when supported early on and given opportunities to succeed. She emphasised the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and collaboration among women.

“We need to celebrate ourselves. We need to encourage mentorship. We need to start sponsoring women. Sponsoring, not discarding, that woman or that little girl, even in small ways. We must intentionally think of our fellow women when spaces open up,” she said.

She concluded by envisioning a world where both women and men work together to create balance and mutual support. “I see a world where women are confident in their roles and femininity and where men are confident that women are not a threat.”

The second panel session, ‘Women’s Leadership and Career Development,’ focused on strategies for advancing women’s careers in finance and fostering leadership skills.

Speakers for the session were Divisional Head of Commercial Banking at Providus Bank, Rita Amene; Deputy Head of Operations at Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC of Nigeria, Olufunke Amobi; Vice President of Africa Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Henrietta Bankole-Olusina; and Head of Sponsorships, Partnerships, and Events at FirstBank of Nigeria, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande.