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| Amaka Onwughalu |
Fidelity Bank Plc Chairman, Amaka Onwughalu, has emerged winner in the “Women on Bank Boards” category at the 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, bringing together top professionals and stakeholders across Africa’s banking and finance sector.
Organisers said the conference was created to celebrate women driving leadership, governance, and innovation within Africa’s financial services ecosystem, while promoting greater visibility for female professionals shaping the industry.
Speaking through Ezinwa Unuigboje during the award presentation, Onwughalu described the recognition as a strong validation of the importance of inclusion in corporate governance and boardroom leadership.
“This recognition matters because inclusion at board level strengthens governance,” she said.
According to her, when diverse perspectives are represented at the highest decision-making level, “oversight is sharper, risk conversations are richer, and strategy is tested more thoroughly.”
She further noted that inclusive leadership sends a powerful message to both the market and emerging professionals, stressing that boardrooms should reflect “competence, experience, and the society the financial system serves.”
The Fidelity Bank chairman linked the award to the institution’s governance priorities and ongoing growth strategy, noting that strong corporate governance has supported the bank’s recent milestones in capital strengthening, international expansion, and sustained business growth.
Onwughalu also highlighted the broader impact of inclusive leadership on Nigeria’s banking sector, stating that diverse and inclusive boards help improve institutional trust, strengthen decision-making, and ensure responsiveness to customers, communities, and regulatory changes.
She added that the recognition was received “with gratitude, and with renewed commitment to champion inclusive leadership at the highest level.”
Organisers of AWBFA 2026 described the initiative as more than a conference, noting that it has evolved into a movement focused on celebrating excellence, advancing inclusion, and strengthening leadership opportunities for women across Africa’s financial ecosystem.