Elegbede Abiodun
Among other things, aiming at strengthening economic empowerment across the continent.
Momentum is building ahead of the inaugural Africa Women in Banking and Finance Conference and Awards, scheduled to take place on May 8, 2026, in Lagos, as organisers unveiled what industry observers describe as one of the most ambitious continental recognition platforms dedicated to women shaping Africa’s financial ecosystem.
Organised under the theme “Redefining Women’s Leadership in African Finance”, the conference will convene more than 200 high-value participants, including senior banking executives, policymakers, innovators, regulators, development finance professionals, and institutional leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, and several other countries, according to a statement from the organisers on Monday.
Beyond its scale, organisers insist the significance of AWBFA lies in its deliberate attempt to recognise both visible leaders and quieter professionals who sustain banking institutions behind the scenes.
The Chief Executive Officer of Chlo Haven, Schola Andem, described the initiative as a strategic continental platform designed not only to celebrate achievement but also to amplify the voices and journeys of women driving transformation across Africa’s financial services ecosystem.
She explained that the awards were created to inspire the next generation while also strengthening conversations around leadership, inclusion, and economic empowerment across the continent.
Similarly, the Managing Partner, Prince Dotun Akinwunmi, emphasised that the programme would bring together speakers, judges, and nominees drawn from diverse parts of the global financial community, including representatives from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and institutions across New York, London, and Paris.
He noted that the calibre of participants reflects the seriousness of the initiative and the continental ambition behind its design.
According to the Founder and President of Tunisian Women in Banking and Finance, Wassila Hamdi, the platform was conceived to bridge gaps across African markets while strengthening collaboration among women professionals working across different segments of the finance value chain.
Hamdi explained that the selection process followed strict international standards and benefited from the participation of a global judging panel chaired by Joy Macknight, former editor of The Banker, part of the Financial Times Group.
She further stated that judges drawn from Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, and Tunisia, including seasoned professionals in the global financial landscape like Amanda Pullinger, the CEO of Debbie’s Dream Foundation and former CEO of 100 Women in Finance, contributed to ensuring transparency and credibility throughout the selection process.
Importantly, she stressed that preparation for the awards involved months of structured research and database development across more than 50 African countries, enabling organisers to identify nominees across multiple professional tiers within the banking and finance ecosystem.
Providing additional insight into the award structure, Chando Erege, Chief Operating Officer of Chlo Haven, explained that the 2026 edition will spotlight women across diverse categories, including Women CEO/MD, Women on Banking Boards, and Women in Central Banks.
He added, “In view of the high profile of the nominees, we have added several Women Banker Editor’s Awards, including categories for Leadership Impact, Excellence in Financial Innovation, Rising Star in Banking and Finance, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Equally significant is the conference’s commitment to recognising professionals whose work often goes unnoticed.
Organisers explained that the awards intentionally include categories such as Branch Manager of the Year, ensuring recognition extends beyond headline executives to operational leaders responsible for sustaining institutional performance at grassroots levels.
Speaking as one of the nominees, Dr Tosin Onanuga of Unity Bank, who currently serves as Branch Manager with over two decades of banking experience, described the nomination process as both reflective and empowering.
She explained that managing a banking branch involves overseeing people, managing resources, and driving profitability while aligning with institutional strategy, adding that the recognition process helped highlight the contributions of professionals who are rarely celebrated publicly.
She also noted that visibility remains essential for women professionals across the industry, stressing that platforms such as AWBFA help ensure impactful work does not remain unnoticed.
Meanwhile, organisers confirmed that the conference will also feature Felicia Tamuno of The Alternative Bank as one of the speakers.
Tamuno explained that her session will focus on challenges women face in accessing finance, scaling businesses, and advancing into senior leadership roles within banking institutions.
She noted that although many women enter the financial sector workforce, significantly fewer reach executive leadership levels, making structured support platforms increasingly important.
Offering a continental leadership perspective ahead of the event, Nana Abban, former Group Executive responsible for Consumer Banking across Ecobank’s 33 African markets, said she expects the conference to strengthen professional capacity development and deepen collaboration across the continent’s financial institutions.
She added that gatherings of this scale create opportunities for shared learning while strengthening leadership pipelines across Africa.
Supporting this position, Agnes Malebane, one of the judges speaking from Johannesburg, explained that reviewing nominees provided valuable insight into the depth of talent shaping Africa’s banking sector today.
She described the judging experience as motivating and professionally enriching.
Also contributing to the credibility of the programme, Dina Ben Amor, Co-Founder, Woman Banker Magazine, explained that the initiative was inspired by a desire to create a stronger platform where women in finance can share their stories, achievements, and challenges while encouraging collaboration across borders.
According to organisers, AWBFA 2026 represents not just an awards ceremony but a continental leadership platform designed to connect professionals, inspire emerging leaders and strengthen recognition structures within Africa’s financial services sector.
With the inaugural edition only days away, expectations continue to rise as industry stakeholders anticipate what organisers describe as a defining moment for women’s leadership recognition in African finance.
