Female bankers advocate strategies for economic growth
The Chairperson, Association of Professional Female Bankers, Funke Feyisitan-Ladimeji, has said the association will engage in discussions and steps that will help solve issues that are having debilitating effects on the economy.
A statement obtained on Thursday said she spoke at the association’s annual general meeting and election of new executive committee members in Lagos, where the mantle of leadership fell on her as the new chairperson of the association.
The hybrid event which was presided over by the representative of the national body, a Director, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Akin Morakinyo, was also attended by the past chairperson, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ojo, and other members of the association.
She said, “Every year before Covid-19, we used to have an annual event whereby we bring industry leaders together, academia, as well as business professionals to discuss and debate on topics that are relevant with the development and growth of our nation.
“In addition to that, we have added, this year, a publication that speaks on issues and topics that are relevant to the role of women in banking, women in the economy, given the female population in Nigeria and their role in the economy, more so, when we talk about diversity in terms of gender”.
Feyisitan-Ladimeji said her focus as the incumbent chairperson included partnering with professional bankers, as well as women bankers association in Africa and other continents in the world through collaboration.
She said this was the aim of helping members in Nigeria to globalize their careers and leverage on advantage there, from which were capable of creating opportunities.
Her other goal included broadening APWB blueprints for all the geo-political zones by having active branch in each of them through resuscitating moribund branches of the association and opening new branches and building beneficial eco-system within the branches that would create and enhance value for the members and partners.
She also aimed at broadening professional eco-system of bankers who live and work in the diaspora, the statement said.
The chairperson who described the upcoming female bankers as the next generation of banking leaders, assured them of capacity building and empowerment.
She added that the association had been made available to them with a view to expressing themselves, work and get connected with others and more importantly, see the platform as an avenue to assist them grow into leadership levels.
She commended the immediate past Chairperson, Mrs. Tinuke-Leye Ishola, for her outstanding performance during her tenure and for lifting the association high.
Feyisitan-Ladimeji also lauded the stakeholders who participated in the annual general meeting and the election, including the current President, CIBN, Dr. Bayo Olugbemi, the Registrar and Chief Executive, CIBN, Dr. Seye Awojobi and others.
She urged the new executive officers on the need to build on the success and foundation of the previous executive officers and take the association to greater heights.
