WEMA BANK COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025

WEMA BANK COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025

…Hosts HeForShe Awards, Big Sister Programme Graduation Ceremony, and More

(L-R) Lead, Deal Matchmaking at Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), Tochi Ginigeme; MD/CEO of Wema Bank PLC, Moruf Oseni; Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank PLC, Dr. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola; Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Nneka Okekearu; and CEO of Hervest, Solape Akinpelu, at the Wema Bank International Women's Day event in Lagos today.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative financial institution and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a grand celebration at its Head Office in Lagos.

Themed “Harnessing Innovation & Technology to Accelerate Financial Inclusion for Women,” the event aligned with the global IWD 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action,” emphasizing innovative strategies for enhancing financial inclusion and sustainable women empowerment.

Key Highlights of the Event

The Wema Bank International Women’s Day 2025 celebration brought together influential women across various industries to discuss strategies for leveraging technology to bridge financial gaps for women. Some of the key moments included:

✅ Graduation Ceremony of the Big Sister Programme Cohort 2: The Women Network celebrated the graduation of its second cohort, reinforcing Wema Bank’s dedication to mentorship and empowerment.

✅ HeForShe 2025 Awards: Male employees who have significantly contributed to accelerating women’s empowerment within Wema Bank were recognized and celebrated, encouraging more men to champion gender equality.

✅ Engaging Panel Session: A thought-provoking discussion, moderated by media personality Olive Emodi, featured expert panelists:

• Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University
• Solape Akinpelu, CEO of Harvest
• Tochi Ginigeme, Lead, Deal Matchmaking at Impact Investors Foundation

The panel provided insights on overcoming challenges and leveraging technology for women’s financial inclusion, receiving commendation from women across Nigeria.

Wema Bank’s Commitment to Women Empowerment

Speaking at the event, Dr. Mrs. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola, Chairman of Wema Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 – Gender Equality.“

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action’, and as the first female Chairman of Wema Bank, my career is proof of what happens when organizations take decisive steps to empower women. We must all contribute to building a world where women thrive without discrimination.”

Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Mr. Moruf Oseni (FCIB), further emphasized the institution’s long-standing mission of inclusion and empowerment: “Since 1945, Wema Bank has been dedicated to empowering lives. Over the last 80 years, our commitment to financial inclusion and gender equality has remained unwavering. This is why we launched SARA by Wema in 2019, a women-focused banking proposition that continues to make a significant impact.”

He highlighted Wema Bank’s remarkable achievements in women’s empowerment:

400,000+ previously unbanked women brought into the financial system. ₦75 billion+ in low-interest loans disbursed $20,000+ in grants awarded

✔ 900+ jobs for women created

✔ 3,000+ women connected to market access, generating $4 million+ in sales

“For us, ‘Accelerating Action’ is beyond lip service—we walk the talk when it comes to women empowerment. As we celebrate 80 years on May 2, 2025, our resolve to build a future where women thrive remains stronger than ever.”

As Wema Bank approaches its 80th anniversary, the institution remains a trailblazer in financial innovation, championing gender inclusion, equality, and sustainable empowerment for women.

Follow #WemaBankIWD2025 and #AccelerateAction to stay updated on the bank’s ongoing efforts to drive women’s empowerment in Nigeria and beyond.