First Bank of Nigeria, in line with its dedication to supporting women’s economic empowerment, has joined forces with The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) to champion economic growth and investment opportunities for women.

During a Women Empowerment Webinar hosted by First Bank Group and United Nations Women in Lagos last Wednesday, Head of Sustainability Media and External Relations at FirstBank Group, Ishmail Omamagbe, disclosed this initiative. The event, themed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” highlighted the commitment of both entities to advancing women’s economic empowerment.

Omamagbe emphasised that FirstBank’s dedication to women’s economic empowerment extends beyond offering financial products. He explained that the bank is actively involved in implementing programmes and initiatives that support women across various sectors.

“The bank is focused on investing in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities as catalysts for progress in areas that foster economic growth and gender equality,” said Ishmail.

He outlined a six-point diversity and inclusion strategy adopted by the bank, which includes business rationale, senior leadership support, effective communication, employee engagement, accountability mechanisms, and progress tracking.

Ishmail also underscored that diversity and inclusion are fundamental pillars of First Bank Group’s sustainability strategy, alongside health, education, sustainable procurement, responsible lending, and climate performance.

He highlighted FirstBank’s commitment to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and its integration into the bank’s operations and activities as a core business philosophy. Various programs promoting gender equality in the workplace, supporting women entrepreneurs, and advancing women’s socioeconomic participation have been implemented as part of the WEPs.

In her remarks, Beatrice Eyong, the Country Representative to UN Women Nigeria and ECOWAS, commended FirstBank for its efforts in appointing women to top managerial positions within the bank. She acknowledged the progress made in providing women with access to decision-making roles, particularly in the private sector, including banks.

Eyong stressed the importance of achieving gender balance in decision-making positions for sustainable development.

Chief Executive Officer of Ebonylife Media, Mo Abudu, shared her journey to success during her keynote speech, encouraging women to invest in themselves and leverage available resources to accelerate progress and achieve their aspirations., “You have to build yourself to be your brand ambassador; if you can’t think of it, you can’t achieve it. She said