Industry leaders and policymakers in Nigeria’s financial sector have called for a definitive shift from equality to equity, setting a strategic gaze on a 40 per cent leadership benchmark for women to ensure global competitiveness.

The call was the centrepiece of the 2026 Annual Women’s Marquee Event organised by the Association of Professional Women Bankers, themed ‘Redefining Power: Women Shaping the Future of Finance’.

The forum served as a high-level intervention to address the structural and internal barriers limiting women’s ascent to the pinnacle of the banking world.

Opening the summit, the APWB chairperson, Rafiat Onitiri, characterised the gathering as a pivotal moment for the industry, noting that traditional definitions of power are being disrupted by technology and value-driven leadership.

She said, “This gathering is more than a dinner; it is a declaration of intent to move from conversation to action. Power in finance is increasingly shifting towards those who leverage technology, build trust and create value-driven systems.”

Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/nigeria/stakeholders-advocate-40-female-leadership-in-banks/ar-AA20iA0p