In a significant milestone for Nigeria’s banking sector, women now constitute 35% of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directors and half of its Non-Executive Board, underscoring the institution’s deepened commitment to inclusive and representative leadership.
The Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, who disclosed this during his address at the grand finale of the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations at the CBN Head Office on Tuesday, reaffirmed the apex bank’s mission to achieve gender-balanced leadership.
He pledged: “Increasing women’s representation in leadership is not just ethical; it is a strategic necessity. The rise of women in leadership at the CBN mirrors a global shift, where skilled and visionary female leaders are reshaping governance. We at the CBN are proud to be part of this progress.”
According to him, the appointment of six new female directors sets a new record for the CBN, reinforcing the board and management’s determination to foster diverse perspectives at the top level of the bank’s decision-making process and policy implementation..
- Advertisement -
Cardoso spoke on the valuable contributions of women across the various departments of the apex bank, particularly the newly appointed directors who are among his advisers. They include, Dr. Daphne Dafinone, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, and Ms. Shola Phillips, whose strategic insight, deep expertise, and steadfast commitment have been instrumental in navigating complex challenges and guiding CBN policy direction.
He also recognised the leadership of existing female directors who continue to play critical roles in steering the CBN forward.
In her remarks, Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Ms. Emem Usoro, expressed appreciation to the Cardoso-led management for the collective effort behind this year’s IWD programme, describing it as a powerful reflection of the bank’s shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and institutional progress.
She harped on the urgency of the IWD 2025 theme “Accelerate Action”, citing a World Economic Forum report, which projects that full gender parity may not be achieved until 2054 and urged public institutions in the country to break structural barriers and foster opportunities for women to build sustained momentum in the pursuit of gender equity.
The IWD ceremony culminated the “Inspiring Women Award:, an initiative of the Change and Culture Transformation Unit (CCTU), aimed at recognising outstanding female staff across the CBN’s branches.
Out of 806 nominations submitted nationwide, 28 winners were selected following a rigorous evaluation process. Awardees were drawn from branches across Nigeria including Awka, Dutse, Yola, Gombe, Oshogbo, Kaduna, Enugu and Birnin Kebbi.
Among the honourees, CBN Deputy Governor, Emem Usoro, received the prestigious “Amazon Award” from Governor Cardoso, in recognition of her outstanding leadership since assuming office. Ten female directors were celebrated as “Trailblazers”, while 18 inspiring women were recognised for their contributions to the growth of the bank.
