Two of Nigeria’s top financial institutions, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company, GTCO, have been named winners of the Corporate Leadership Award for Gender Policy Compliance by the MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame, WoFHoF Initiative.
In a statement signed by the Chairperson, 2025 MMS Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Amb. Aisha Mahmoud, the initiative said the award followed an independent assessment of 24 commercial and six non-interest banks, based on publicly available data from their websites and social media platforms.
The group noted that only five banks met the criteria of publishing three consecutive years of annual and sustainability reports in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s gender policy and corporate governance guidelines.
“Among the five, GTCO and Zenith Bank led with a strong show of commitment to gender equality and compliance with the CBN’s target of 30 percent female representation on boards and 40 percent in management positions”, the statement said.
While Zenith Bank Plc was nominated as the Best Gender-Diversity, Equality, and Inclusive, DEI Bank in Nigeria by the MMS Hall of Fame Leadership -Impact Assessment Committee; GTCO emerged as the Best CBN Gender Policy Compliant Bank in Nigeria for 2025, following its performance in transparency and board diversity.
“Available data showed that Zenith Bank Plc set and maintained a 50 percent and above corporate threshold on workforce employment for three consecutive years of 2022-2024. Women made up 53 percent of the bank’s workforce in 2024, up from 50 percent in 2023 and 2022. As at December 31, 2024, the bank had a total of 7,704 employees with 4,090 women and 3,614 men, showcasing a relatively balanced workforce and equal opportunities for all employees.”
“Data from the survey conducted also showed that GTCO operated above these thresholds for three consecutive years of 2022-2024. The bank’s commitment to gender diversity, and the broader focus on equal opportunities, and women empowerment resonate with the values of MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame Initiative; and aligns with the CBN’s goals of promoting financial inclusion and gender equality in the banking sector”, the statement read.
The one-day event scheduled for November 20th, 2025 at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja is themed: “Fostering Sustainability, Women and Leadership with Technologies.” It has two segments: The Summit- Morning session, garnished with two impactful panel sessions featuring Induction Ceremony and the Evening segment, featuring the Leadership-Impact and SDGs Awards Night.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State will chair the event, while other honorees include; Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, First Lady of Bauchi State; Hajia Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, First Lady of Kebbi State; and Dr. Dill Ezughah, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council.
According to the event’s organising Chairperson, Amb. Nana Aisha Mahmoud, “This year’s event was carefully designed to intentionally promote sustainability in gender diversity and the inclusion of technology in alternative and informal education, while encouraging the robust participation of northern Nigerian women in socio-economic cum political developments. They have been held back by a mixture of factors over the years, leading to the incidents of out-of -school children.”
The event also holds the promise to showcase 13 years of legacies of MMS Hall of Fame while celebrating leadership excellence to inspire public and private office holders to not only be legacy- driven and impact- focused with their position but benchmark their achievements with the dispassionate assessment of the stakeholders.
Mahmoud who is also the Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria-Russia Trade Advisory Council added, “It is a triple event celebrating leadership values, using the tested leadership principles and the United Nations SDGs variables as a foundation for assessment of the Awardees and inductees.
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