IWD: FirstBank dedicates March to celebrating, empowering women

FirstBank First Bank of Nigeria Limited

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced that it is dedicating the month of March to the celebration of women across the world, as it commemorates International Women’s Day observed globally on March 8.

Kicking off the series of activities designed to celebrate women was the First Women Network (FWN) mentoring, coaching and sponsorship pillar webinar on Friday, March 3.

On Wednesday, March 8, First Bank will join the rest of the world to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day themed “Embrace Equity”.

As a member of UN Women, FirstBank employs the relevant women empowerment tools including the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Gender Gap Analysis Tool in the process of assessing its performance and provides progress reports that feed into the WEPs performance indicators. FirstBank has a ratio of about 39%:61% female to men employees with 32% women in management.

FirstBank is partnering with UN Women on March 15 and is set to play a key role in a scheduled event driven by UN Women that will showcase young women and men between the ages of 18-35 in Nigeria who are using technological innovations and tools to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment and inclusion.

Amongst the activities scheduled to round off the Women’s Month commemoration is the bank’s support of the Heroism of Erelu Ota – a play which aligns with its First@arts goal of supporting the arts and women.

Speaking ahead of the events, Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank said “we remain committed to diversity and inclusion as well as women empowerment through digital education and the provision of opportunities for women to access digital tools to bridge the gender digital divide and achieve gender equality.

“Therefore, as in previous years, FirstBank has dedicated March 2023 as a month set aside to celebrate women and all their remarkable achievements over the years which include their leadership roles and pace-setting standards in Science Technology Entrepreneurship, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). 

“We are deliberate about partnering to ensure more impact – ensuring that we touch as many women as possible in Women’s Month and beyond.’’