Female Bankers Urged To Embrace Professionalism

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Sunday, November 30th, 2014

By Ayo Balogun

Upcoming female generation of Bankers have been urged to be initiative, professional and ambitious so as to make a successful career.

The Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, gave this advice at the First Female Bankers’ Conference organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sub-Committee on Economic Development, Sustainability and Gender.

“Beyond being a woman, the female banker is a money manager, home maker and mirror for others in the industry circle. You need to put up your best stance in the banking profession; be informed about your job description, be intelligent, vigilant, knowledge-thirsty and integrity-conscious. Your success depends largely on being always prepared for the next challenge and the experience that comes with it”. Akpobome affirmed.

The key attributes, in her words that could stand a female Banker out in the male dominated industry, given the experience of her formative years in banking, was how to sell values, noting that the good values imbibed would sell a bank executive and the product presented.

The Banker described the inaugural conference as value-loaded and long overdue in the Nigerian Banking Sector, adding that the gathering has succeeded in raising issues and perspectives on “gender imbalance, stereotyping of female professionals, male/female relationship issues, work pressure, marriage/work life issues and competition”.

In her presentation, an Ecobank Executive Director Ms Foluke Aboderin, tasked the Nigerian female bankers to be professional in what they do; play the integrity card; do not play the gender game in work place, but if all, it should be played down.

The conference, which was attended by many female bank chief executives brainstormed on visionary leadership and strategic feminine issues in the country’s Banking industry.