Access Bank Receives Multiple Awards at Gender Leader Awards Ceremony in Lagos

Access Bank Plc, Africa's largest retailer, has been honored with multiple prestigious awards at the recently held Gender Leader Awards (GLA) in Lagos. The bank received accolades for its outstanding company leadership in gender diversity, family-friendly workplace excellence, and as a gender equality champion.

The GLA, introduced as part of the Nigeria2Equal (N2E) initiative, aims to recognize private sector businesses that are leading the way in promoting gender equality. Access Bank's commitment to advancing women's leadership and development has earned them particular distinction.

The bank's notable achievements in empowering women were further highlighted as it presented the fifth season of the Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton. Aligned with Access Bank's mission to become the preferred financial institution for women in the markets it serves, the W Initiative aims to inspire, connect, and empower women entrepreneurs.

"We are grateful for this recognition and dedicate the award to our customers, particularly the women who rely on us to provide the right support to scale their businesses and improve their quality of life through initiatives that go beyond banking," said Roosevelt Ogbonna, GMD/CEO of Access Bank Plc.

The Best Company Leadership Awards, organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, aimed to advance gender equality and provide greater opportunities for women in leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship in the Nigerian private sector.

"The awards underscore the amazing dedication of CEOs and other business leaders to establishing a more inclusive workplace where everyone has the chance to flourish. IFC is proud to partner with NGX on the Nigeria2Equal program and on this important award, which underscores IFC's ongoing commitment to equal opportunities for both men and women in Nigeria's private sector," commented Kalim M. Shah, IFC Senior Country Manager for Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Access Bank has been at the forefront of providing women with the tools and opportunities for genuine financial inclusion and expansion. In 2022 alone, the bank granted N40.5 billion to over 64,845 women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Group Head of Women Banking at Access Bank Plc, Abiodun Olubitan, expressed the bank's ambition to increase this amount to around N100 billion by the end of 2023.

The Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton project, part of the W Initiative, aims to provide female entrepreneurs in Africa with access to financing, business training, and mentorship opportunities. The project has received over 150,000 applications and provided mini-MBA training to 300 women, with over N45 million granted in support.

The 2023 Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton project, set to begin on June 26 and run until August 11, will empower women entrepreneurs through financial grants, an accredited capacity building program, and business mentoring. To qualify, female entrepreneurs must be between 18 and 55 years old, have been in business for at least one year, and own at least 50% of their company.

With its unwavering commitment to gender equality and women's economic empowerment, Access Bank continues to play a vital role in fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable private sector ecosystem in Nigeria.