Zenith Bank empowers schoolgirls through maiden girl-child development programme

Zenith Bank Plc has launched a girl-child empowerment initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with financial literacy, leadership skills and personal development knowledge, bringing together 300 schoolgirls aged 13 to 17 from selected Lagos schools.

The maiden edition of the programme, themed “Banking on Her Tomorrow,” was held on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, featuring sessions on finance and investment, etiquette, social media responsibility, healthy relationships and personal development.

The initiative, conceived by the bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Adaora Umeoji, is designed to help girls build confidence, make informed decisions and prepare for their future educational and career pursuits.

Addressing participants, Umeoji urged the girls to believe in their abilities, pursue their ambitions and resist societal limitations that could restrict their potential.

“Each of you possesses gifts, talents, and ideas that are capable of revolutionising the world,” she said, encouraging them to explore their interests and remain focused on their goals regardless of their age or gender.

Delivering the keynote address, the Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, urged the participants to embrace their identities, develop resilience and use their abilities to make positive contributions to society.

Using the mangrove tree as a symbol of resilience, she explained that challenges should not define the girls’ futures, adding that their worth extended beyond academic performance and external expectations.

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The programme featured interactive sessions led by professionals and public figures. Ayanime Edem, founder of The Elite Finishing School, spoke on etiquette, communication and self-presentation, while actress and content creator Bukunmi Adeaga Ilori, popularly known as Kie Kie, addressed responsible social media use, authenticity and digital boundaries.

Zenith Bank representatives Thelma Okonye and Adesola Adeyemo introduced participants to saving, responsible money management and investment, while filmmaker and educator Praise Onyeagwalam, popularly known as Director Pink, discussed self-awareness, healthy relationships and effective communication.

The event also featured competitions with cash prizes totalling more than ₦1 million, alongside book presentations to encourage reading and personal growth. Musical performances by singers Qing Madi and No. 11 added to the programme.

In her closing remarks, Zenith Bank Executive Director Dr. Adobi Nwapa said the bank intended to sustain the initiative as an annual programme, stressing that its commitment to empowering girls extended beyond the inaugural event.

The initiative builds on the bank’s existing women-focused programmes, including its International Women’s Day Seminar, Women of Honour Awards, Pad-a-Queen Initiative and Z-Woman, which supports women-owned businesses through business assistance and access to credit at discounted rates.

Through Banking on Her Tomorrow, Zenith Bank is extending its empowerment strategy to younger girls, with a focus on financial awareness, personal development and preparing future generations of women for leadership and economic participation.