Women’s strong ethical values and sense of responsibility make them critical to building resilient institutions and sustainable financial systems, Managing director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olusegun Alebiosu, has said.
He spoke during the bank’s recent celebration of International Women’s Day.
According to him, experience in the financial sector has shown that women often demonstrate higher levels of integrity and accountability, traits essential in industries built on trust, such as banking.
He also that women’s ethical orientation and empathy often shape how they approach decisions, noting that they tend to prioritise responsibility over risk.
He further referred to lending data, which suggests that women generally record lower default rates compared to men.
He added:“Some people say women may not take as many risks as men, but the reality is that women tend to prioritise responsibility,” he said, noting that such attributes contribute to stability in financial systems.”
Global Chair of the First Women Network at the bank, Olaitan Martins, said empowering women through mentorship, opportunity and institutional support remains essential for building inclusive workplaces.
She said deliberate investment in women creates stronger organisations and unlocks broader societal benefits. “When women are given opportunities, we gain stronger institutions. We gain confidence and capability,” she said.
According to her, the bank’s First Women Network operates several development pillars, including communications and media, financial empowerment, family lifestyle and welfare, personal branding and wellness, career management and mentoring.
The network has also extended its outreach beyond the workplace, recently visiting female correctional centres across the country to provide essential items and support to inmates.
She said that empowering women must remain a continuous effort through mentorship, partnership and fairness in opportunity.
She added: “When women rise, families rise, and communities rise,” she stated, stressing that collective progress depends on sustained commitment to women’s advancement.’
