The Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc, Amaka Onwughalu, has won the “Women on Bank Boards” category at the 2026 Africa Women in Banking and Finance Conference and Awards (AWBFA 2026).
The event, themed “Redefining Women’s Leadership in African Finance,” was held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja on Friday, May 8, 2026.
The conference was organised to celebrate women driving leadership and impact across Africa’s financial services industry, while promoting greater visibility for female professionals shaping the banking and finance sector.
Speaking through Fidelity Bank’s Company Secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje, Onwughalu described the award as a recognition of the importance of inclusion in strengthening corporate governance and board effectiveness.
According to her, inclusive representation at board level improves oversight, enriches risk management discussions and ensures more rigorous strategic decision-making.
She noted that leadership diversity also sends a positive message to the market and aspiring professionals by demonstrating that boardrooms should reflect competence, experience and the society the financial system serves.
Onwughalu linked the recognition to Fidelity Bank’s broader governance priorities and business growth, citing the bank’s recent milestones in capital strengthening, international expansion and sustained growth performance.
She further stated that inclusive boards contribute to stability and trust within the banking sector by improving decision-making and helping financial institutions remain responsive to customers, communities and evolving regulatory demands.
The Fidelity Bank chairman said the award would further strengthen her commitment to promoting inclusive leadership at the highest levels of the financial industry.
Organisers of AWBFA 2026 described the initiative as more than a conference, noting that it represents a movement aimed at celebrating excellence, advancing inclusion and strengthening leadership opportunities for women across Africa’s financial ecosystem.
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