The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has said it is committed to empowering women entrepreneurs.
To demonstrate this, the bank has exclusive SME loan products tailored for women-led and women-owned businesses.
This has seen the bank ensured that 78% of its Working Capital Loans are empowering women-led and women-owned enterprises.
The Group Managing Director/CEO, of UBA Oliver Alawuba, stated this on Tuesday at the State House Banquet Hall where he delivered the keynote address during the Nigeria for Women Farming, Health, Empowerment, Justice, Entertainment, and Fund Raising Programme/Project (EMPOWERHER).
The programme had the theme: “Farming to Feed the Nation, Empowerment to Give Women Voices, Justice for Crimes to Have Consequences via Mobile Court.”
He said at the UBA, they recognise that women are the driving force behind sustainable development, innovation, and economic growth.
Continuing he said across the bank’s 24 countries of presence, the bank “actively embraced the potential and leadership of women, not just in words but in actions. With close to 50% female representation on our Board, 40% of Senior Management roles held by women and an impressive 59% of our Graduate Management Trainees being female,we are truly leading the charge for gender equality in the corporate world.”
“This unwavering commitment underlines our role as a foremost pan-African Global Banking Group dedicated to advancing women’s empowerment and fulfilling the promise of the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goal 5, ie. achieving Gender Equality and empowering all women and girls” the GMD stated.
Mr. Alawuba further stated that “empowering women means equipping them with the tools to participate fully in all sectors of society,from Agriculture to Technology,from Leadership to Entrepreneurship. It means ensuring they have access to healthcare, legal recourse, and educational opportunities.”
“It means giving them a platform to make decisions and assert their rights. Today’s theme encapsulates this holistic approach to empowerment-supporting women through farming,ensuring their health,advocating for justice, and amplifying their voices in all aspects of life” he indicated.
According to him, “the responsibility of empowering women cannot rest on government alone. It requires the concerted effort of every one of us – individuals, Civil Society Organizations,Development Partners, and the Private Sector-to come together with a shared commitment to this cause. This fundraising initiative is an opportunity for each of us to play a part in transforming the lives of women across Nigeria.”
“By contributing to the EMPOWERHER programme, you are not only investing in women – but you are also investing in the future of Nigeria” he noted.”
“When women are empowered, entire communities are lifted out of poverty.When women have access to education, healthcare, and justice, they become change agents for their families and society at large.Studies show that when women control resources, they reinvest 90% of their income in their families, compared to 30-40% for men. Imagine the ripple effect that our collective efforts can create” he indicated.
