Leaders in Nigeria’s financial sector have called for a stronger focus on financial inclusion, innovation, and gender equity, highlighting women’s critical role in shaping the future of finance.
The call came at the 2026 Annual Women’s Marquee Event organized by the Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB), themed “Redefining Power: Women Shaping the Future of Finance.” The gathering brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and financial experts to explore how women can drive transformation in banking and finance.
APWB Chairperson Rafiat Onitiri described the event as “more than a dinner, but a declaration,” noting that women account for only 38–40% of leadership in the sector. She stressed the importance of equity in opportunities, representation, and influence, calling for mentorship, board participation, and executive coaching to amplify women’s voices.
Keynote speaker, GTBank Managing Director Miriam Olusanya, emphasized that disruption in finance is about access, trust, and people, not just technology. She described Nigeria as “one of the most dynamic laboratories for financial disruption” and urged women to be “agents of inclusion and engines of scale.”
Financial inclusion emerged as a central theme. Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo of Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc noted that systems and products must reflect women’s real-life needs, including micro-trade and community savings, while addressing structural barriers.
Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), described women’s empowerment as a “strategic imperative” for global competitiveness. Experts highlighted that fintech, AI, and digital banking offer opportunities for inclusive system design, provided women are at the table.
Speakers agreed that financial inclusion, innovation, and gender equity are inseparable. As women’s participation as users and leaders grows, the financial sector is expected to become more resilient, responsive, and impactful.
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