Fidelity Bank Plc celebrated the International Women’s Day with the formal launching of HerFidelity product to support women-owned businesses.
The high-profile event held at the Civic Centre, Lagos on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 also featured networking specifically for women to inspire one another, discuss pertinent challenges they face as well as proffer solutions on breaking the gender biases prevalent in the country.
HerFidelity boasts of exciting features such as capacity development initiatives, access to finance, recognition and networking events, health and wellness programmes, etc, all designed to speak to the yearnings of women.
Speaking at the event, the chief host and MD/CEO of the bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said women are the major drivers of micro-businesses in Nigeria going by the available statistics.
She said the possibilities are endless for the women if they were given the opportunities they deserve.
“Despite the challenges women face, we continue to play a significant role in driving the economic, social and cultural development of our communities. Indeed, a recent PwC Nigeria report indicated that 41 percent of micro-businesses in Nigeria are run by women, with over 23 million female entrepreneurs operating in this segment.
“This exemplifies not only our drive as women but the immense value we bring to the table. Just imagine what we could achieve if the girl child is given the opportunity she deserves, encouraged to go to school and is judged by her competence and not by her complements! The possibilities are endless,” she said
Onyeali-Ikpe also made several corporate social responsibility donations to women-led businesses on behalf of the bank, further demonstrating the bank’s unwavering commitment towards improving the well-being of women across the country.
Speaking on the donations, she said: “One of the pillars of HerFidelity is capacity building. Therefore we are sponsoring five female-led enterprises today with a total sum of N5 million for training female apprentices.
“In addition, we are supporting Dream Catchers Academy for Girls—a free educational and performing arts academy for orphaned and underserved girls— with the sum of N10 million for an IT centre at the academy as well as one year of coding training for the girls.
“We believe this will go a long way to assist the young ladies who need a helping hand while enhancing their knowledge in the areas of technology.”
In her keynote speech, former minister of education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, highlighted the importance of joining forces to fight gender discrimination and inequality in Nigeria.
“The power of collaboration and cooperation is key as implicit bias is not something you can fight alone. It requires a coalition effort. You must build your own coalition.
“At every point in life, a woman must understand that she will face a major challenge because of the conditioning that society has given to itself. Therefore, build coalitions. We have the numbers and we must let the numbers work for us,” she said.
She also encouraged forward-thinking organisations to be deliberate about gathering relevant baseline data and eliminating barriers to the career growth of women.
Other notable women personalities at the event apart from Ezekwesili were billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija; MD/CEO, Practoil Ltd, Mrs. Bola Shagaya; award-winning author, Ms. Chimamanda Adichie; Iya Oge of Lagos, Mrs. Opral Benson; country director, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Onari Duke; executive vice chairman, H. Pierson, Eileen Shaiyen; oil magnate and lawyer, Mrs. Uju Ifejika; seasoned actress and journalist, Mrs. Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett; former senator, Florence Ita-Giwa; fashion and style connoisseur, Nkiru Anumudu, CEO, Linda Ikeji Media, Ms Linda Ikeji, among others.
