Girls bankers push for 40% illustration on financial institution boards

The Affiliation of Skilled Girls Bankers has renewed its name for elevated feminine illustration on the boards of Nigerian banks, urging the business to lift girls’s inclusion from the present 30 per cent to a minimum of 40 per cent.

The decision was made at APWB’s end-of-year wellness and networking occasion, Fit to Lead, which introduced collectively feminine banking professionals to mirror on management, well-being, and profession development. The occasion targeted on holistic growth and underscored the hyperlink between wellness and efficient management.

Talking on the occasion, APWB Chairperson, Rafiat Onitiri, mentioned girls make up almost 60 per cent of Nigeria’s banking workforce however stay under-represented on the highest ranges of decision-making.

“Even reaching 40 per cent illustration could be a serious milestone,” Onitiri mentioned.

“This isn’t about numerical equality however about equity. Girls contribute considerably to the expansion and stability of the banking business and deserve alternatives and recognition that mirror these contributions.”

She added {that a} stronger feminine presence on financial institution boards would improve variety of thought, strengthen governance, and assist extra sustainable enterprise outcomes throughout the sector.

The occasion featured guided aerobics, stretching classes, and group health actions led by skilled instructors.

In keeping with Onitiri, the initiative was designed to encourage girls to prioritise self-care, reconnect with each other, and restore stability after a demanding 12 months.

“Management is demanding, and for ladies who play a number of roles at work and at dwelling, the stress might be intense. Wellness shouldn’t be a luxurious; it’s important for sustainable management,” she mentioned.

APWB Second Vice Chairperson, Temi Dalley, added that the initiative aimed to arrange feminine bankers to step into 2026 more healthy and extra balanced bodily, mentally, and emotionally. She mentioned APWB would proceed to advocate for insurance policies and programmes that assist girls’s development in banking whereas selling wellbeing as a basis for long-term success.

The Fit to Lead occasion strengthened APWB’s broader dedication to empowering girls within the monetary sector by boardroom advocacy, private growth, and sustainable management practices.