The Central Bank of Nigeria has revealed that women now occupy 35% of its director positions and make up half of its non-executive board, underscoring the institution’s commitment to gender-balanced leadership.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso made this known at the grand finale of the bank’s International Women’s Day celebration at its headquarters in Abuja.
“Increasing women’s representation in leadership is not just ethical; it is a strategic necessity,” Cardoso said, highlighting the growing influence of female leaders in the bank and across the global financial landscape.
He noted the valuable contributions of women in shaping the bank’s policies and operations, citing newly appointed directors such as Daphne Dafinone, Nkiru Balonwu, and Shola Phillips as key figures navigating complex financial challenges.
Deputy Governor of Corporate Services, Emem Usoro, commended the collective effort behind the IWD programme, describing it as a reflection of the CBN’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and institutional progress.
She referenced a World Economic Forum report projecting that full gender parity might not be achieved until 2054, stressing the need for institutions to take concrete action to break structural barriers for women.
The event also featured the ‘Inspiring Women Award,’ an initiative by the Change and Culture Transformation Unit to recognize outstanding female staff across CBN branches.
Out of 806 nominations submitted nationwide, 28 winners were selected from branches including Awka, Dutse, Yola, Gombe, Osogbo, Kaduna, Enugu, and Birnin Kebbi.
Usoro was honoured with the prestigious Amazon Award in recognition of her leadership, while 10 female directors were celebrated as trailblazers.
Another 18 women were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the bank’s success.
The CBN had on March 3 appointed 16 new directors, including six women, to head key departments, further reinforcing its push for gender-inclusive leadership.
