Stanbic IBTC has pledged to maintain a gender-balanced workforce as it strives to continue to provide quality financial services to clients and Nigerians.
The pledge was given at the 2019 Stanbic IBTC Blue Women Network (BWN) fifth anniversary event held in Lagos recently.
The BWN, inaugurated five years ago, according to the bank, has consistently organised the event to commemorate the yearly International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations.
The 2019 IWD with the theme, ‘BalanceForBetter,’ was a significant opportunity for Stanbic IBTC to celebrate its gender-balanced workforce and its efforts to promote a gender-balanced workplace in society.
The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Yinka Sanni, in his opening speech, said the bank was proud to showcase not only its equal opportunity policy, but also its efforts to promote a gender-balanced workplace in society.
“In our 30-year history, we have always insisted on equal opportunity. We have also continued to lead the charge in empowering women. This gives me joy and is something that we are fully committed to as an organisation,” Sanni said.
He reiterated: “I am pleased to let you know that Standard Bank Group has recently joined hands with ‘HeForShe’ a UN Women Solidarity Movement for Gender Equality.
Sim Tshabalala, Our Group Chief Executive, is amongst other African leaders who have already signed up as a ‘HeForShe’ Impact Champion.” On March 8, the official International Women’s Day, Stanbic Bank made a bold statement by changing the colour of its logos from blue to magenta, colour of the UN Women HeForShe brand, on the vast majority of its digital platforms,” he added.
The Stanbic IBTC Blue Women Network is a platform established to provide the women in Stanbic IBTC the opportunity to engage and share their knowledge and information among themselves and in the process, gain new insights that will enhance their professional skills.
In line with the balance theme, Founder/CEO of Channels TV, Mr John Momoh, and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs Yewande Sadiku, who was an ED in Stanbic IBTC before joining government, acted as resource persons for the event.
Momoh, narrated how he started Channels TV with his wife and how his equal opportunity policy has helped to catapult the TV station to the top of the game in television programming.
Sadiku drew on her over 21-years of work experience with Stanbic IBTC and how she was never discriminated against based on her gender to encourage members of the BWN, especially the young ones, to remain hardworking, dedicated, focussed, and creative in their duties.
She urged them to take advantage of the opportunity provided by Stanbic IBTC to advance their career while admonishing them not to use their gender as an excuse to be sloppy at work.
The chairperson of BWN initiative, Nike Bajomo, who is an Executive director, stated women have a duty to be diligent at work and be positive about career growth, otherwise, the famed glass ceiling will limit advancement.
Bajomo conclusively said “ I urge you to do your bit to ensure that the future for the female folk is positive, equal, safe and fulfilling. I don’t see glass ceilings preventing me from attaining success. If you do, then you are getting in your own way.”
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