Fidelity Bank Chairman Amaka Onwughalu has won ‘Women on Bank Boards’ Award at AWBFA 2026.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fidelity Bank Plc, has won the prestigious “Women on Bank Boards” award at the 2026 Africa Women in Banking and Finance Conference and Awards (AWBFA).
The award ceremony, themed “Redefining Women’s Leadership in African Finance,” was held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, on Friday, May 8, 2026, and celebrated outstanding women shaping leadership and innovation across Africa’s financial services sector.
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AWBFA 2026 was designed to spotlight women making significant contributions to banking and finance while promoting stronger representation and inclusion within Africa’s corporate leadership space.
Speaking through the Company Secretary of Fidelity Bank, Ezinwa Unuigboje, Onwughalu described the recognition as an important affirmation of the value of inclusion in corporate governance and board leadership.
According to her, diversity at board level improves oversight, strengthens strategic decision-making, and enhances conversations around risk management and institutional growth.
“This recognition matters because inclusion at board level strengthens governance,” she said, adding that diverse perspectives help organisations achieve more effective and balanced leadership outcomes.
She further noted that inclusive leadership sends a strong message to future generations, stressing that corporate boardrooms should reflect competence, experience, and the realities of the society financial institutions serve.
Onwughalu linked the award to Fidelity Bank’s broader governance and growth strategy, highlighting the institution’s recent milestones in capital strengthening, international expansion, and sustained business performance.
She also emphasised the wider impact of inclusive leadership within Nigeria’s banking industry, noting that gender-diverse boards help improve institutional stability, decision quality, customer responsiveness, and regulatory compliance.
Receiving the award, she reaffirmed her commitment to promoting inclusive leadership and advancing stronger female representation at the highest levels of corporate governance.
Organisers of AWBFA 2026 described the initiative as more than just an awards platform, stating that it aims to drive inclusion, celebrate excellence, and strengthen leadership opportunities for women across Africa’s financial ecosystem.
