Stakeholders across Nigeria’s financial ecosystem have called for a decisive shift toward inclusive systems, innovation-led growth, and gender equity, stressing that women must play a central role in shaping a globally competitive financial sector.
The call was amplified at the 2026 Annual Women’s Marquee Event of the Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB), themed “Redefining Power: Women Shaping the Future of Finance,” which convened industry leaders, regulators, and experts in Lagos.
In her welcome remarks, APWB Chairperson, Rafiat Onitiri, described the gathering as “more than a dinner, but a declaration” of intent to move from dialogue to action. She noted that power in finance is evolving, increasingly defined by the ability to leverage technology, build trust, and create value-driven systems.
“Women are redefining power across industries, not just in finance,” she said, pointing out that despite progress, women still account for only about 38 to 40 per cent of leadership roles. She stressed the need for equity over mere equality, calling for fairness in access, representation, and influence, while highlighting mentorship, executive coaching, and boardroom inclusion as critical enablers.
Managing Director of GTBank, Miriam Olusanya, expanded the conversation, arguing that disruption in finance goes beyond technology to include access, trust, and people. Describing Nigeria as “one of the most dynamic laboratories for financial disruption,” she said true transformation lies in building systems that serve more people efficiently and transparently.
“Disruption is about access, power, and ultimately people,” Olusanya said, adding that women must be seen not just as participants but as “agents of inclusion and engines of scale.” She warned that financial exclusion remains disproportionately skewed against women, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Also speaking, Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director at Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc, emphasised the importance of designing financial systems around real-life use cases.
“Inclusion must be embedded into infrastructure and product development, not treated as an afterthought,” she said, noting that bridging the gender gap requires rethinking onboarding processes, strengthening agent networks, and addressing structural barriers.
Participants identified persistent challenges limiting women’s financial participation, including limited awareness, affordability constraints, and systemic biases, alongside internal barriers such as low visibility and imposter syndrome.
President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, described women’s empowerment as a “strategic imperative” for building a resilient and globally competitive financial system, calling for measurable progress in leadership representation and structured mentorship.
Speakers also highlighted the transformative potential of fintech, artificial intelligence, and digital banking in expanding access, stressing that inclusive innovation must involve women not just as users but as designers of financial solutions.
Industry leaders, including Kofo Akinkugbe of SecureID, reinforced the message that women are not merely participants but key architects of the evolving financial ecosystem.
The consensus was that financial inclusion, innovation, and gender equity are deeply interconnected, and unlocking women’s full potential is critical to building a more resilient, inclusive, and competitive financial system.
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