Sterling Bank Plc has launched a new initiative known as, ‘One Woman,’ to commemorate the International Women’s Day in Nigeria, with the theme ‘Be Bold for Change.’
The proposition was launched by the Chief Executive Officer of DO.II Designs Limited, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo and the wife of the Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, at a ceremony in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Ighodalo said the significant number of women in Nigeria’s population made it imperative to deliberately focus on the needs of women to ensure sustainable economic development and growth.
According to her, the business case for targeting women was simple; they are the more excluded gender; 21.4 million females, representing 42.7 percent of the total female population are financially excluded; 15 million of these women are not earning income frequently.
Mrs. Ighodalo who is also the wife of the Chairman of the Bank, Mr. Asue Ighodalo said, “This provides a huge opportunity for structural changes within the economic and financial system if we pay attention,” remarking that, “to enable us to make an impact, we must reach as many women as possible.”
“At Sterling Bank, we are moved not just by the statistics before us but by the stories we experience to make a difference in the lives of women through financial access. This is the premise on which we are here today. To be the platform that provides a space for women to thrive, to be heard and live the best of their lives.”
Earlier in her address of welcome, an Executive Director of the bank, Mrs. Egbichi Akinsanya, said: “One Woman” was designed to make the women of the past proud; the women of the now, inspired, and provide the women of the future with hope.
Under the ‘One Woman’ proposition, the bank has developed unique value propositions tailored specifically for women. The value proposition comprises of an array of different value-add offerings to meet financial, business and personal needs of women in Nigeria and to foster support by providing platforms for women to support other women.
Some of these offerings include the Sterling Maternal Medical Finance (SMMF) available to women for peculiar medical treatments like fibroid, customised debit cards with a bold feminine touch that would provide cardholders access to discounts for spas, makeover services, and furniture/household items at select outlets; discounts on lending rates of all existing retail loan products (e.g. personal loan, asset acquisition loan, MSME loans,) for women and capacity building programme for young women.
