Olarinde Idowu
As Wema Bank prepares to mark International Women’s Day (IWD), Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, renowned for innovation and as the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced its 2026 IWD Grand Event scheduled for March 4, 2026.
Aligned with the global IWD 2026 theme, “Give To Gain,” the Bank’s celebration will focus on the sub-theme, “When Women Gain, We Grow.” The event will emphasise the value of investing in women and the far-reaching impact of collective efforts to support and celebrate them, fostering a stronger culture of inclusion and empowerment.
Announcing the event, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, reaffirmed the institution’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender inclusion. He noted that Wema Bank has consistently demonstrated its dedication beyond rhetoric.
“A society that sidelines women limits its own progress,” Oseni stated. “At Wema Bank, we remain intentional about creating tailored opportunities for women, celebrating their growth, and supporting their journeys to ensure every woman can thrive. This commitment inspired the launch of our women-focused proposition, SARA by Wema, in 2019 and continues to guide our efforts in advancing gender equality in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
He further explained that this year’s theme resonates deeply with the Bank, given its long-standing investment in women and the tangible results witnessed over the years. According to him, the 2026 celebration will spotlight the many ways individuals and institutions can give to women—not as an act of charity, but as a necessary step toward sustainable societal growth.
“Our focus this year is impact—highlighting it, celebrating it, and inspiring more of it,” Oseni added. “We want every participant to leave transformed in mindset and action, with a renewed commitment to prioritising support for women in everyday decisions and large-scale initiatives alike, as we collectively bridge the gender gap.”
The 2026 IWD event will bring together accomplished women across diverse industries alongside everyday women navigating real-life challenges. It will provide a platform for meaningful conversations, networking, shared learning, and access to opportunities—demonstrating the transformative power of investing in women.
Key highlights of the event include the SARA Gives to Empower Her Award, which will provide grants to women making significant impact in the lives of other women; the employee-focused He For She Award, recognising male staff members who actively support women beyond financial contributions; the Wema Knight Gives initiative, through which employees will extend support to women across Nigeria; and the unveiling of the Wema Bank Girl Child Journal, a reflective compilation of real-life insights and advice from 80 distinguished contributors across various fields.
Interested participants can register to attend physically or virtually via wemabank.com/iwd.
