Ecobank Nigeria Limited has received recognition for its efforts in promoting gender balance and equality in the workplace.
The prestigious award was presented to the bank at the Nigeria2Equal Gender Leader awards, organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group).
The Gender Leader Awards, part of the Nigeria2Equal (N2E) program, aims to acknowledge and celebrate private sector companies that excel in gender equality performance across various criteria.
Ecobank Nigeria was honored in the Gender Diversity in Supply Chain category during the high-profile event, which was attended by chief executives, business leaders, and dignitaries, including the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Ms. Dahlia Khalifa, the Regional Director for Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone at the IFC, commended the participating companies of Nigeria2Equal for their progress in promoting women’s roles within their organizations during the award ceremony.
According to her “Khalifa said, “As we celebrate the accomplishments of these organizations who have shown outstanding leadership in closing the gender gaps within their own organizations, we acknowledge the power of collaboration and the transformative impact that specific, measurable, and time-bound commitments can have on achieving gender parity in Nigeria’s private sector. IFC remains resolute in our commitment to sustain the momentum and support the private sector to scale up its efforts for a more gender-balanced, prosperous future.”
Upon receiving the award, the Deputy Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Carol Oyedeji, noted that Ecobank has implemented policies and structures that foster gender balance in its workforce. She emphasized that these accolades serve as evidence of Ecobank Nigeria’s significant contributions to promoting gender equality within the organization and the wider Nigerian private sector.
Oyedeji revealed that the bank has also introduced numerous initiatives and innovative products aimed at empowering and sustaining female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Notable examples include ‘Ellevate’ and the ‘Ecobank Female Entrepreneurs Initiative (EFEI)’, which have been specifically designed to empower and provide support to small-scale businesses owned by women.
“Across Ecobank, we are intent on ensuring that all women can reach their full potential and always have equal opportunities to men in advancing their careers and achieving promotion. Female staff are holding strategic leadership and management positions in the organization. We are committed to creating a society and workplace that is free of bias and gender-based discrimination,” she said.