Zenith Bank, Ford Foundation honour unsung ‘sheroes’ with inaugural Woman of Power Award

By Adebayo Obajemu

Zenith Bank Plc, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, has honoured 19 outstanding Nigerian women for their resilience and impact in their communities at the maiden edition of the Woman of Power Award.

The award ceremony, which marked the climax of the bank’s month-long activities commemorating Women’s Month, was held on March 28, 2026, at The Civic Centre, Lagos. It followed an earlier International Women’s Day Seminar hosted at the same venue on March 9.

The initiative celebrated women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, leadership and commitment to improving lives in their communities through their professions and social contributions.

Speakers at the event commended Zenith Bank for its people-centred initiatives and lauded the Ford Foundation for partnering with the bank to support women navigating challenging cultural and economic conditions.

With the theme “Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity,” the award recognised 19 women selected from the country’s six geo-political zones in fields including trade, petty manufacturing, education and agriculture.

According to the organisers, the honourees were chosen for their ability to demonstrate leadership and create meaningful impact in their communities despite prevailing economic challenges.

The programme also provided a platform to spotlight what the organisers described as “unsung sheroes” – everyday women whose contributions often go unnoticed. These include market women, small-scale entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare workers and community leaders who continue to play vital roles in society.

The organisers explained that the awardees were selected based on criteria such as leadership and initiative, community impact, innovativeness, perseverance, integrity, public trust and philanthropy.

Among those honoured were Mrs Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse empowering young people in Umuode-Nsulu community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State; Mary Matanmi, coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists, Lagos chapter; and Ifeanyi P. Ugwueze, a guidance counsellor and life coach who continues to excel despite blindness and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree.

Others include Amina Musa, a trade educator based in Karonmajiji, Abuja Municipal Area Council; Adenike A. Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin; Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in Jibi, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory; and Erikan Idem Andrew, a market woman recognised for her community influence in Port Harcourt.

Also honoured were Ngozi B. Nwankpa, an Aba-based fashion designer; Hadiza Umar, a development specialist based in Kaduna; Joy C. Ezenwa, popularly known as Mama Amala, a trader at Sabon Gari Market, Kano; and Shola Esther Babalola, also known as Mama Sho, promoter of natural honey and founder of the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos.

Another notable honouree was Josephine Ugwu, a staff member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, who was recognised for her honesty in recovering and returning millions of naira mistakenly dropped by passengers at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

In her keynote address, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, represented by Executive Director Adobi Nwapa, praised the awardees and reiterated the bank’s commitment to promoting women’s empowerment.

She said the bank’s dedication to gender inclusion remained one of its core values.

“Zenith Bank’s commitment to gender inclusion is not rhetoric but one of the ethos the bank holds very dearly,” she said, adding that the bank maintains a 50-50 gender ratio, with women occupying key positions in management and on the board.

She also noted that the current Group Managing Director is the first woman to hold the position in the bank’s history.

The Regional Director of the Ford Foundation, Dr Chichi Aniagolu, described the award as an eye-opener, noting that her team’s engagements across the country revealed the vast and often overlooked potential among Nigerian women.

Both organisations pledged to sustain and expand the initiative in the coming years.

Zenith Bank also used the platform to highlight several women-focused initiatives, including the Z-Woman programme, as well as its 19-year sole sponsorship of the Nigeria Basketball Federation Women’s Basketball League.

The bank said the programmes form part of its broader commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and economic inclusion across Nigeria.