Wema Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Women Empowerment at International Women’s Day 2025 Event
Lagos, Nigeria – Wema Bank has reiterated its unwavering commitment to women empowerment, gender inclusion, and financial equality, as it hosted the Wema Bank International Women’s Day 2025 Event in Lagos on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni (FCIB), emphasized the bank’s dedication to driving real change in women’s financial inclusion.
“At Wema Bank, we don’t just talk about women empowerment—we walk the talk. From our inception in 1945 to date, we have consistently championed financial inclusion, empowerment, and support for women. While much has changed over the last eight decades, our commitment remains steadfast,” Oseni stated.
He highlighted the global gender equality gap and stressed the need for tailored solutions, citing the bank’s women-focused initiative, SARA by Wema, launched in 2019.
Impact of Wema Bank’s SARA Initiative
Since its launch, SARA by Wema has recorded significant milestones, including:
- Banking over 400,000 previously unbanked women
- Disbursing over N75 billion in low-interest loans
- Awarding over $20,000 in grants
- Creating more than 900 jobs for women
- Providing market access for 3,000 women, linking them to over 135,000 customers
- Generating over $4 million in sales for women entrepreneurs
Oseni reaffirmed that Wema Bank’s commitment to accelerating action for women empowerment extends beyond corporate responsibility. “As we celebrate our 80th anniversary on May 2, 2025, our resolve to empower women is stronger than ever. We envision a future where equity is the norm and empowerment is not just an ideal but a reality,” he added.
Harnessing Innovation for Women’s Financial Inclusion
This year’s event, themed “Harnessing Innovation & Technology to Accelerate Financial Inclusion for Women,” drew inspiration from the global International Women’s Day 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action.”
The event featured:
- A Panel Discussion moderated by media personality Olive Emodi, featuring distinguished speakers:
- Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University
- Solape Akinpelu, CEO, Harvest
- Tochi Ginigeme, Lead Deal Matchmaking, Impact Investors Foundation
- The Women Network’s Graduation Ceremony for the Big Sister Programme Cohort 2
- Special music and poetry performances
- The HeForShe 2025 Awards, recognizing male Wema Bank employees championing gender equality
Wema Bank’s Leadership in Gender Inclusion
Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwayemisi Olorunshola, Chairman of Wema Bank, emphasized the institution’s role in advancing gender equality as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“As the first female Chairman of Wema Bank, my career is a testament to what can be achieved when organizations take decisive steps to accelerate action for women empowerment. The fifth SDG—Gender Equality—envisions a world where women thrive without discrimination or oppression, and we must all contribute to this cause,” she stated.
As Wema Bank approaches its 80th anniversary, it continues to solidify its legacy as Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, driving innovative financial solutions and championing gender inclusion across Africa.
