Business
ASO Savings’ Risikatu Ahmed, Eight Other female MDs Celebrated for Leading Nigeria’s Banking Sector
Women In Business, WIMBIZ, a Nigerian non-profit organisation working to inspire women to attain leadership roles in Management, Business and Public Service, last week celebrated nine outstanding professional women who took mantle of leadership in the banking sector.
One of the outstanding female top bankers recognised by WINBIZ was Risikatu Ladi Ahmed.
Risi Ahmed was recently appointed as the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASO Savings & Loans Plc. With her appointment, Risikatu becomes the first female to be appointed as the CEO of a primary mortgage bank in recent times.
Other women on the WIMBIZ list of honour are: Ireti Samuel Ogbu of Citibank Nigeria; Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank Plc; Yemisi Edun of First City Monument Bank; Bukola Smith of FSDH Merchant Bank; Miriam Olusanya of Guaranty Trust Bank; Kafilat Araoye of Lotus ank; Halima Buba of SunTrust Bank and Tomi Somefun of Unity Bank.
These distinguished female professionals are taking over the banking sector at a critical point in the nation’s economic trajectory and their appointments by the Boards of their institutions are adjudged as a vote of confidence on the abilities of female professionals to steer the ship of the financial sector at a most challenging time.
Primary Mortgage banks have been in focus in recent times. The need to provide affordable houses has become a critical deliverable by the governments at various levels and this has made the mortgage institution a very critical financial sector in the economy.
The choice of a woman as the head of a mortgage bank is a big stride in the Mortgage community because women are considered as stronger in long term plans execution and paying attention to details.
Finance industry analysts posit that ASO Savings & Loans has taken a bolder step by appointing a woman as the bank’s CEO.
Risikatu Ahmed has over two decades banking experience. Attaining the peak of her career as the first female Managing Director of ASO Savings & Loans Plc is a bold statement that, irrespective of gender, a focused professional can aspire to top positions.
Prior to her appointment as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASO Savings & Loans Plc, she was an Executive Director of the bank.
An alumna of Lagos Business School (SMP), University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Advanced Management Program, Risikatu has also gone through leadership courses in Harvard Business School.
The nine women who have taken over at the major money deposit and mortgage banks are distinguished professionals who have, through dint of hard work and resilience, climbed the corporate ladders to the peak of their careers. Risikatu is the only one of the nine that heads a Mortgage bank, while others are CEOs of money deposit banks.
Studies show that gender diversity (and all diversities) initiative in corporate governance is smart business. Women have different life experiences, and often bring different skill sets, ways of thinking, and approaches to problem solving. Researches also indicate that women top executives tend to be more prudent, transparent and unyielding in achieving corporate goals.
WINBIZ considers these female achievers as worthy of celebration as well as a source of inspiration and role models to women professionals who are aiming at reaching the pinnacles of their careers.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to community development and youth empowerment with the donation of educational and hygiene materials to pupils of Wesley Nursery and Primary School in the Makoko Waterfront Community, Lagos, under its Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).
The FHHP outreach was led by the Bank’s Risk Management Directorate as part of a “Back to School” intervention aimed at improving learning conditions and promoting personal hygiene among children in one of Nigeria’s most underserved waterfront communities. Through the FHHP, staff receive matching financial support from the bank’s management to execute projects identified in response to their communities’ crucial needs.
A total of 124 primary school pupils benefitted from the initiative. Items donated included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, towels, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, designed to support both academic learning and healthy living.
Speaking at the outreach, Divisional Head, Remedial Assets, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Damian Orizu, who represented the Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Kevin Ugwuoke, said the initiative underscores the bank’s belief that its long-term success is closely linked to the wellbeing of the communities in which it operates.
“At Fidelity Bank, we strongly believe that our growth and success are closely tied to the wellbeing of the communities where we operate,” Dr. Orizu said. “This outreach is our way of investing in the future of Makoko’s children by supporting their education and promoting good hygiene, which are critical foundations for long-term development.”
Orizu further added, “The FHHP reflects the passion and commitment of our employees to make a tangible difference. I commend the Risk Management Directorate for championing this intervention and demonstrating that corporate responsibility starts from within.”
The Baale, Adogbo (1) Community, Makoko, Chief Victor Panke, thanked Fidelity Bank for its consistent support, noting the severe financial and transportation challenges faced by children in the area. “This support will go a long way in easing the burden on our children and their families,” Chief Panke said. “Many pupils struggle daily with transportation across the lagoon just to attend school. We are grateful to Fidelity Bank and appeal for continued assistance, especially in the area of boats to help our children access education more safely and easily.”
The Makoko outreach is the Bank’s third intervention in the community within the last two months. Through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, Fidelity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to education, hygiene and sustainable community development, with a special focus on vulnerable communities such as Makoko.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Ecobank Nigeria, in partnership with Soto Gallery, has announced plans to host the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, scheduled to take place from 5–8 March 2026 at the Ecobank Pan‑African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The 2026 edition, themed “Inclusivity,” underscores Ecobank and Soto Gallery’s shared commitment to creative entrepreneurship, equitable access, and the deliberate expansion of opportunity within Nigeria’s contemporary art ecosystem.
The +234 Art Fair has quickly established itself as one of Lagos’ most important contemporary art platforms, with a distinct focus on emerging and often ungalleried Nigerian artists. In just a few years, the fair has become a critical gateway—connecting local talent to collectors, patrons, cultural institutions, and global audiences, while strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy.
Speaking on the 2026 edition, Tola Akerele, Founder of Soto Gallery and Curator of the +234 Art Fair, said the theme “Inclusivity” reflects a clear intent to widen representation and reposition visibility within the art space.
“Inclusivity is about opening doors wider and changing who gets seen, supported, and celebrated,” she said. “We are already receiving exceptional works from artists who might otherwise not have access to platforms like this. The application remains open, and I encourage Nigerian artists to seize this opportunity to be recognised among the continent’s finest.”
Also commenting, Omoboye Odu, Head, SME Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, described the 2026 fair as a purposeful intervention aimed at reshaping how Nigerian creativity is discovered, supported, and sustained.
“For the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, we celebrate Inclusivity as both a principle and a practice,” Odu said. “Art belongs to everyone. This fair intentionally broadens the frame—moving beyond traditional centres of access to spotlight talent from the margins, from new geographies, and from voices that deserve to be heard.”
She added:
“If you are an artist working across boundaries, challenging perspectives, or creating outside established systems, this is your moment. +234 Art Fair 2026 is about building a more equitable creative future—together.”
The event is expected to attract a diverse audience, including art lovers from across Nigeria, residents of the African diaspora, senior government officials, policymakers, members of the diplomatic community, collectors, and global art enthusiasts.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, has partnered with Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative to plant trees at Elegushi Beach, Lekki, in Lagos.
Speaking during the event, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications of Fidelity Bank Plc, highlighted the bank’s resolve to consistently champion initiatives that preserve the environment and reduce the impact of climate change.
“Environmental preservation is a key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillar for us at Fidelity Bank. We believe that protecting the earth is a shared responsibility.
“That is why this initiative is not a one-time activity, but part of our ongoing efforts to promote sustainable best practices.
“We are committed to ensuring that our environment, including marine habitats, remains protected from pollution and degradation,” Nwagboh said.
In addition to planting trees, the Fidelity Bank team also conducted a beach clean-up exercise to remove waste materials from the shoreline and surrounding marine areas.
Nwagboh noted that the bank continues to support environmental conservation through various initiatives nationwide and remains a proud partner of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
“Tree planting is an integral part of our climate action and resilience plan, and our goal is to consistently expand our environment-friendly operations.
“We are delighted for this partnership with Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative. It is one we intend to nurture, as we believe there’s more to be done to protect our environment,” Nwagboh added.
In his speech, Mr Chinedu Mogbo, the Founder of Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative, commended Fidelity Bank for its proactive commitment to environmental sustainability.
He explained that the partnership aligns with the NGO’s mission to foster safer, cleaner environments for both humans and wildlife.
“Our partnership with Fidelity Bank is driven by a shared mission to create a safer, greener environment for both humans and wildlife. Beyond enhancing environmental safety, planting trees contributes to beautifying our surroundings and restoring balance to nature,” Mogbo stated.
The exercise marks another significant step in Fidelity Bank’s environmental CSR efforts aimed at promoting sustainable living across communities, combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and conserving aquatic ecosystems.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels. The bank has 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
