Access Bank Recognised For Promoting Gender Equality
By Patience Ikpeme
Access Bank Plc has received recognition for its efforts in supporting female-owned businesses and promoting gender equality.
The bank was honored with the Company Leadership in Gender Diversity Award, Family-Friendly Workplace Excellence Award, and Gender Equality Champion Award at the Gender Leader Awards (GLA) in Lagos.
The GLA, organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, aims to promote gender equality and provide increased opportunities for women in leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship in the private sector.
Access Bank expressed gratitude for the recognition and dedicated the awards to its customers, particularly women, who rely on the bank for support in scaling their businesses and improving their quality of life.
The bank highlighted its commitment to gender equality through initiatives such as Nigeria2Equal and acknowledged other private sector organizations that have demonstrated exceptional performance in advancing gender-focused initiatives.
The GLA is part of the Nigeria2Equal (N2E) programme and recognizes private sector companies that are leading the way in gender equality.
The awards showcase the commitment of chief executives and business leaders to creating inclusive workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Access Bank’s Group Managing Director, Roosevelt Ogbonna, emphasized the bank’s dedication to championing gender equality through the W Initiative and ensuring collective visions are realized.
Kalim Shah, IFC Senior Country Manager for Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, expressed pride in partnering with NGX on the Nigeria2Equal programme and the important GLA award, highlighting IFC’s ongoing commitment to equal opportunities in Nigeria’s private sector.
Temi Popoola, CEO of NGX, stated that the awards demonstrate a collective commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable private sector ecosystem in Nigeria.
Access Bank has a track record of providing sustainable tools for women to access financial inclusion and growth. In 2022, the bank disbursed N40.5 billion to over 64,845 women-owned SMEs, and it aims to scale this figure to about N100 billion by the end of 2023, according to Abiodun Olubitan, Group Head of Women Banking at Access Bank Plc.
