On Saturday, March 28, 2026, Zenith Bank Plc brought to a close its month-long commemoration of Women’s Month with a grand finale held at The Civic Centre, Lagos. The event marked the second major engagement in the series, following the International Women’s Day Seminar earlier held at the same venue on March 9, 2026. The occasion was dedicated to recognising and celebrating exceptional Nigerian women whose resilience, leadership, and commitment to their vocations have created lasting impact within their communities.
The ceremony, themed “Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity,” brought together stakeholders from across sectors, including development partners, industry leaders, and community representatives. It also underscored Zenith Bank’s continued commitment to people-centred initiatives, with speakers at the event commending the bank for its sustained investment in programmes that uplift and empower women. Special recognition was also given to the Ford Foundation for its collaboration with Zenith Bank, with many speakers acknowledging the Foundation’s role in identifying the bank as a credible partner in advancing support for women navigating diverse cultural and economic realities.
At the heart of the event was the recognition of 19 outstanding women selected from Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. Drawn from sectors such as trade, petty manufacturing, education, and agriculture, the awardees were celebrated for demonstrating remarkable strength, leadership, and innovation despite the prevailing economic challenges. According to the organisers, the initiative was designed to spotlight often overlooked “Sheroes”—everyday women whose contributions are vital to community development but rarely receive widespread recognition. These included market women, small-scale entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare workers, and grassroots leaders whose work continues to shape lives in meaningful ways.
Each honouree was carefully selected based on key criteria, including leadership and initiative, community impact, innovativeness, perseverance, integrity, and commitment to philanthropy. Among those recognised was Mrs. Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse empowering young people in Umuode-Nsulu community, Abia State; Mary Matanmi, Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists in Lagos State; and Ifeanyi P. Ugwueze, a guidance counsellor and life coach who, despite being visually impaired, continues to inspire others while pursuing a doctorate degree.
Other awardees included Amina Musa, a trade educator in Abuja; Adenike A. Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin; Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in the Federal Capital Territory; Erikan Idem Andrew, a market woman in Port Harcourt; Ngozi B. Nwankpa, a fashion designer based in Aba; Hadiza Umar, a development specialist in Kaduna; Joy C. Ezenwa, popularly known as Mama Amala, a trader in Kano; Shola Esther Babalola, founder of the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos; and Josephine Ugwu of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, who was honoured for her exceptional honesty in recovering and returning lost funds at the Murtala Muhammed Airport. Several other deserving women were also recognised for their contributions.
In her keynote address, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, who was represented by Executive Director Adobi Nwapa, reaffirmed the bank’s unwavering commitment to gender inclusion and women’s empowerment. She emphasised that the bank’s approach goes beyond rhetoric, describing it as a core value deeply embedded in its operations. She highlighted Zenith Bank’s achievement in maintaining a balanced gender structure, noting a 50-50 gender ratio and the presence of women in strategic leadership roles, including the historic appointment of the bank’s first female Group Managing Director.
Also speaking at the event, the Regional Director of the Ford Foundation, Dr. Chichi Aniagolu, described the Woman of Power Award as both enlightening and inspiring. She noted that the Foundation’s nationwide engagement revealed the immense, often untapped potential of Nigerian women, reinforcing the importance of sustained investment in grassroots empowerment initiatives.
Both Zenith Bank and the Ford Foundation reiterated their commitment to expanding and sustaining the initiative in the years ahead, with a shared vision of amplifying the voices and contributions of women across the country.
The event also provided an opportunity for Zenith Bank to showcase its suite of women-focused products and initiatives, including the Z-Woman programme, as well as its longstanding 19-year sponsorship of the Nigerian Basketball Federation Women’s League. These initiatives, the bank noted, are part of its broader strategy to drive financial inclusion and economic empowerment for women nationwide.
As the evening drew to a close, the celebration stood as a powerful testament to the resilience, ingenuity, and leadership of Nigerian women, while reinforcing Zenith Bank’s position as a leading advocate for gender inclusion and sustainable community development.
