Banking
Access Bank Chair Seeks Strategic Investment in Women for Economic Growth
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chairman of Access Bank Plc, Mrs Ifeyinwa Osime, has called for deliberate and strategic investment in women as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.
According to her, empowering women should be seen as a strategic economic decision rather than charity.
“When we speak of giving, it is about expanding access to finance, markets, knowledge and platforms that enable women to build sustainable businesses,” she said at an International Women’s Day Conference organised by Access Bank.
At the event, which attracted over 5,000 participants both physically and virtually, and attended by stakeholders across the public and private sectors, she noted that women own about 39 per cent of businesses in Nigeria and drive nearly
40 per cent of new enterprises, while small and medium enterprises contribute about 48 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 80 per cent of employment.
Mrs Osime, however, decried the persistent financing gap facing women, describing it as a major constraint on productivity and economic growth.
“No economy can optimise its potential while underinvesting in half of its population,” she said, highlighting the bank’s interventions through its W Initiative and Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton programme, which provides financing, training and healthcare support to thousands of women.
Also speaking at the programme, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Ms Hannatu Musawa, reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering women as key drivers of the nation’s creative economy, with a focus on expanding access to finance, skills development and leadership opportunities.
The Minister, represented by the Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Mrs Aisha Adamu, said women were increasingly taking the lead in building businesses, driving innovation and shaping society.
“Across Nigeria, women have always been the invisible architects of our culture, yet their contributions have been underrepresented and undervalued,” she said.
The Minister said the ministry was repositioning culture as a structured economic sector through creative hubs, skills development and enterprise support programmes targeting women in film, fashion, digital media and tourism.
On financing, Ms Musawa noted that women-owned businesses account for about 40 per cent of small and medium enterprises but continue to face significant funding gaps.
“Too many ideas remain small not because they lack potential, but because they lack access to capital,” she said, adding that the government was working to unlock targeted funding for women, strengthen market access and improve data systems to support women entrepreneurs, while also promoting their inclusion in leadership and policy-making processes.
Also, former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, stressed the need to prioritise women’s inclusion in development processes, noting that societies transform when critical issues such as women’s inclusion are deliberately prioritised.
“There is no other way societies have transformed than when people who care make an issue a priority,” she said, stressing that removing structural barriers limiting women’s participation would unlock significant economic potential, adding that agricultural output could increase by up to 30 per cent if women had equal access to inputs as men.
In the same vein, the Group Head for Women Banking at Access Bank, Mrs Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, said the bank remained committed to supporting women across all segments.
She said the bank recently organised a special Women’s Day programme for market women in Oyingbo, Lagos, offering free health checks, beauty services and financial education.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The stellar contributions of Polaris Bank Limited to youth employment, talent development, and workforce empowerment across Nigeria have not gone unnoticed, as the company was recently recognised at an event in Lagos.
At the 2026 Jobberman Partners’ Convening, the financial institution was bestowed with the Private Sector Champion Award.
The award recognises private sector organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership in advancing youth employability through impactful recruitment initiatives, graduate trainee programmes, executive hiring support, candidate assessment programmes, and strategic partnerships that create sustainable career opportunities for young Nigerians.
Themed From Impact to Action: Collectively Designing the Future of Youth Employment in Nigeria, the convening focused on fostering collaboration between the private sector and other stakeholders to expand access to meaningful employment opportunities and equip young Nigerians with the skills and opportunities required to succeed in an evolving economy.
On the recognition, Jobberman commended Polaris Bank for consistently going beyond transactional partnerships to deliver measurable impact within Nigeria’s employment ecosystem. The renowned recruitment firm described Polaris Bank as a credible and purpose-driven institution committed to advancing youth employability and supporting the future of work in Nigeria.
The Head of Talent Management at Polaris Bank, Ms Cynthia Sanyaolu, reaffirmed the lender’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians and strengthening the nation’s workforce through strategic people-focused initiatives designed to create long-term economic and social impact.
“This recognition reflects Polaris Bank’s unwavering belief in the potential of the Nigerian youths and our commitment to building platforms that enable them to thrive professionally and economically.
“At Polaris Bank, we see talent development and youth empowerment as critical drivers of national growth and sustainable development,” she stated.
Over the years, Polaris Bank has continued to invest in initiatives that promote learning, career growth, workforce inclusion, and economic empowerment.
Through strategic Graduate Trainee recruitment programmes via its flagship Polaris Graduate Intensive Training (PGIT) and Polaris Tech Ignite Training (TechIGNITE), among other talent development initiatives, and collaborative partnerships, the bank remains committed to supporting the next generation of Nigerian professionals while contributing to national development.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Plans are underway by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) to approach the international debt market for a capital raise.
The parent company of the Ecobank Group intends to use proceeds from the proposed exercise to refinance “the concurrent any-and-all tender offer of the ETI $350 million 8.750 per cent tier 2 notes due June 2031.”
However, the issuance of the notes is subject to prevailing market conditions and the conclusion of the necessary transaction documentation, a statement signed by the organisation’s chief financial officer, Mr Ayo Adepoju, stressed.
After issuance, the debt instrument may be listed on the London Stock Exchange, with the expectation that the bonds will be traded on its regulated market.
Ecobank noted that it would allocate an amount equivalent to the full net proceeds of the issue of the notes to finance or refinance, in part or in full, new and/or existing eligible assets as described in its Green Bond Framework (Ecobank-Sustainability), as amended and supplemented from time to time.
Ecobank, which has banking operations in 34 countries in Africa, is listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (Stock Exchanges).
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Over N500 million has been disbursed to small-scale traders and shop owners across Nigeria by Unity Bank Plc.
This is part of the financial institution’s efforts to promote SMEs and strengthen support for operators in the informal sector.
The funding support was given to beneficiaries through Unity Bank’s innovative loan product known as Shop Collateralised Facility (SHOCOF).
The package was designed to significantly improve access to financing, and further drive financial inclusion.
Originally introduced as a targeted intervention for traders in Southeast Nigeria, SHOCOF quickly gained traction and broad acceptance for its flexibility and tailored structure, prompting the Bank to expand the product nationwide.
Under the initiative, eligible customers can use their shops as collateral to access financing. The product simplifies access to credit by leveraging the commercial value and stability associated with fixed business locations, enabling traders to secure funds without the stringent collateral requirements associated with traditional lending structures.
The facility provides working capital support that enables beneficiaries to restock goods, increase inventory turnover, improve cash flow, and respond more effectively to market demand.
Recent reports indicate that more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s small businesses operate informally, with many relying on personal savings and informal borrowing channels due to limited access to Bank credit. SHOCOF was developed to bridge this gap through a lending model tailored to the realities of market traders and small shop owners.
Speaking on the impact of the product, the Group Head, Risk Management, Unity Bank, Mr Olusegun Oladipo, said the Bank recognised the need for financing solutions aligned with the realities of informal sector businesses.
“SHOCOF was created to address a critical gap within the small business ecosystem by providing access to credit through a structure that traders can satisfactorily meet without much ado,” Mr Oladipo said.
“By recognising the value and stability embedded in their businesses, we have been able to support traders with the capital required to sustain and grow their operations,” he added.
Also commenting, the Divisional Head of SME and Retail Banking at Unity Bank, Ms Adenike Abimbola, said the nationwide adoption of the product reflects proper market segmentation to meet the growing demand for accessible financing among small business owners.
“What started as a targeted intervention in the Southeast, which quickly gained momentum because the product directly addressed the realities of everyday traders,” Ms Abimbola said.
Over the years, Unity Bank has continued to introduce targeted solutions aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, including its flagship Yanga account package developed to support female entrepreneurs.
The lender reaffirmed that expanding access to capital for underserved business segments remains critical to boosting trade, strengthening local economies, and driving sustainable economic growth.
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