Zenith Bank Plc, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, has honoured 19 women across Nigeria for their exceptional contributions to community development, leadership, and economic empowerment.
The recognition formed the highlight of the bank’s month-long activities to commemorate women’s month, culminating in an awards ceremony held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at The Civic Centre, Lagos.
The event followed an earlier International Women’s Day seminar held on March 9, 2026, at the same venue, reinforcing the bank’s sustained commitment to promoting gender inclusion and celebrating female excellence across multiple sectors.
Themed “Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity,” the awards recognised women selected from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, spanning sectors such as trade, petty manufacturing, education, and agriculture.
The awardees were identified for demonstrating resilience, innovation, and measurable impact within their communities despite prevailing economic challenges.
Organisers said the initiative was designed to spotlight “unsung Sheroes”, women whose contributions often go unnoticed but remain critical to grassroots economic and social development. The honourees included market women, educators, small-scale business operators, healthcare workers, and community leaders.
Each recipient was evaluated based on defined criteria, including leadership and initiative, community impact, innovativeness, perseverance, integrity, and philanthropy.
Among those honoured were Mrs. Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse empowering youths in Abia State; Mary Matanmi, Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists, Lagos State chapter; and Ifeanyi P. Ugwueze, a visually impaired guidance counsellor and life coach currently pursuing a doctorate degree.
Others recognised include Amina Musa, a trade educator based in Abuja; Adenike A. Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin; Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in the Federal Capital Territory; Erikan Idem Andrew, a market leader in Port Harcourt; Ngozi B.
Nwankpa, a fashion entrepreneur in Aba; Hadiza Umar, a development specialist in Kaduna; Joy C. Ezenwa, a trader in Kano; and Shola Esther Babalola, founder of the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos.
Also honoured was Josephine Ugwu, a staff member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, recognised for her integrity after returning millions of naira mistakenly left behind by passengers at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
In her keynote address, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji, represented by Executive Director Adobi Nwapa, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to gender inclusion, stating that the institution maintains a balanced gender structure with women occupying strategic leadership roles, including the position of Group Managing Director.
She noted that the bank’s approach to gender inclusion is embedded in its corporate culture and operational strategy, rather than being a symbolic initiative.
Also speaking at the event, the Regional Director of the Ford Foundation, Chichi Aniagolu, described the Woman of Power Award initiative as an important platform for uncovering and celebrating overlooked talent across Nigeria.
She noted that field assessments conducted by the foundation revealed significant untapped potential among women operating in challenging environments.
Both Zenith Bank and the Ford Foundation reiterated their commitment to sustaining and expanding the initiative in the coming years as part of broader efforts to support inclusive economic growth.
Zenith Bank also used the platform to highlight its women-focused financial products and initiatives, including the Z-Woman programme, as well as its long-standing sponsorship of the NBBF Women’s Basketball League.
The bank noted that these initiatives are part of its strategy to enhance financial inclusion, support female entrepreneurship, and promote sustainable economic participation among women nationwide.
The awards event further reinforces Zenith Bank’s positioning as a leading financial institution driving gender inclusion and community development through structured interventions and strategic partnerships.