Zenith Bank and Ford Foundation Celebrate Unsung Heroes with First Woman of Power Award

On March 28, 2026, Zenith Bank held the grand finale of its month-long activities in recognition of Women's Month at The Civic Centre. This occasion marked the second significant event within the month, following the International Women’s Day Seminar conducted earlier on March 9, 2026. The purpose of the event was to acknowledge and reward extraordinary women who have made impactful contributions within their communities.

Throughout the event, speakers praised Zenith Bank for its commitment to community welfare and expressed gratitude towards the Ford Foundation for partnering with the bank in its efforts to uplift women across diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.

Emphasizing the theme "Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity," the award acknowledged 19 women sourced from all six geopolitical regions, involved in trades, small-scale manufacturing, education, and agriculture. These individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience and leadership, successfully navigating the hurdles presented by Nigeria's challenging economy.

According to the event organizers, this initiative was designed to provide a platform for recognizing "unsung Sheroes"—ordinary women actively making a positive impact within their communities. This demographic included market sellers, small business entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare providers, and others whose valuable contributions often go unnoticed.

The sponsors highlighted that each award recipient exemplified excellence in key areas such as leadership, creativity, perseverance, integrity, community impact, and philanthropy.

Some of the distinguished honorees included:

• Mrs Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse fostering youth empowerment in Umuode- Nsulu, Abia State;

• Mary Matanmi, the Lagos State Coordinator for the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers, and Cosmetologists;

• Ifeanyi P Ugwueze, a guidance counselor and life coach overcoming blindness while pursuing a doctoral degree.

Additional recognitions were given to:

• Amina Musa, a vocational educator in Karonmajiji, AMAC, Abuja;

• Adenike A Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin;

• Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in Jibi (Deidei), FCT;

• Erikan Idem Andrew, a community-focused market woman from Port Harcourt;

• Ngozi B Nwankpa, an Aba-based fashion designer;

• Hadiza Umar, a Development Specialist in Kaduna;

• Joy C Ezenwa (popularly known as Mama Amala), who sells goods in Kano's Sabon Gari Market;

• Shola Esther Babalola, who promotes natural honey and operates the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos;

• Josephine Ugwu, a dedicated employee of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) renowned for her integrity in returning lost money at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed Airport;

• Along with other remarkable women.

In a keynote address, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank and represented by Executive Director Adobi Nwapa, lauded the awardees, reaffirming the bank's commitment to women’s advancement. She emphasized that "Zenith Bank's approach to gender inclusion is a core value that the institution cherishes deeply." Dame Dr Umeoji highlighted the bank's exemplary 50-50 gender ratio, with women holding crucial management and board positions, including the unique distinction of having a female Group Managing Director.

Additionally, Dr Chichi Aniagolu, Regional Director of the Ford Foundation, described the Woman of Power Award as a transformative experience that revealed the often-overlooked potential of Nigerian women.

Both Ford Foundation and Zenith Bank are committed to building upon this initiative in the years to come, while Zenith Bank also took the opportunity to inform attendees about various products and programs tailored for women, including the Z-Woman initiative, and its long-standing sponsorship of the NBBF Women’s Basketball League. This further underscores Zenith Bank's leading role in promoting women’s empowerment and economic inclusion throughout Nigeria.