Zenith Bank has recorded another feat as it held the climax of its month-long activities on Saturday 28th to commemorate March as women’s month.
The event held at The Civic Centre, was the second of such activity at the Centre, having held the International Women Day Seminar on the 9th of March, 2026.
The essence of the event was to honour and give awards to exceptional women who have shown resilience in their communities with heir vocation. impacting lives sustainably.
Different speakers took their time to eulogized Zenith Bank for its people-centric activities and appreciated the Ford Foundation for identifying the Bank as a worthy partner in its push to support women in their peculiar cultural and economic conditions across the world.
The Theme of the award which recognised 19 women who were selected from the six geo-political zones in trade, small and medium manufacturing, education, and agriculture was: “Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity”.
According to the organisers, the initiative provided a platform to showcase unsung “Sheroes” — everyday women, who are making meaningful contributions in their communities and fields which included market women, small-scale business owners, community leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and many others whose vital roles often go unnoticed.
The sponsors of the event noted that each awardee exhibited excellence in several key areas, including leadership and initiative, community impact, innovativeness and resourcefulness, perseverance, integrity, community trust, and philanthropy.
Some of the award recipients were: Mrs Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse empowering young people in Umuode-Nsulu community, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State; Mary Matanmi, Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists, Lagos State chapter; Ifeanyi P. Ugwueze, a Guidance /Counsellor and Life Coach who is thriving in her business despite the fact that she is a visually impaired person and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree.
Others included: Amina Musa, a trade educator based in Karonmajiji, AMAC, Abuja; Adenike A. Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin; Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in Jibi (Deidei), Bwari Area Council, FCT; Idem Andrew, a market woman with significant community impact in Port Harcourt; Ngozi B. Nwankpa, an Aba-based fashion designer; Hadiza Umar, a Development Specialist based in Kaduna, Kaduna State; Joy C. Ezenwa (aka Mama Amala), a trader at Sabon Gari Market, Kano; Shola Esther Babalola (Mama Sho), promoter of natural honey and founder of the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos; Josephine Ugwu, a staff member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who was honoured for her honesty in recovering and returning millions of naira mistakenly dropped by passengers at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos among others.
These women demonstrated extraordinary strength, leadership, and impact despite the significant challenges posed by the difficult economic situation in the country.
Both the Ford Foundation and Zenith Bank Plc have pledged to sustain and grow the initiative in the coming years.
Zenith Bank used the forum to notify the women of their various women-targeted products and initiatives, including the Z-Woman initiative, and the Bank’s 19-year sole sponsorship of the NBBF Women’s Basketball League; thus, further highlighting its position at the forefront of women empowerment and economic inclusion across the country.
