Sterling Bank Plc, the one-customer bank has launched a new proposition known as, ‘One Woman’ to commemorate the International Women’s Day in Nigeria with the theme ‘Be Bold for Change.’

The product was launched by Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, the Chief Executive Officer of DO.II Designs Limited and the wife of the Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Asue Ighodalo, at a well -attended ceremony in Lagos.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Ighodalo said the significant number of women in Nigeria’s population has 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 is simple; they are the more excluded gender. 21.4 million females, which represents 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,” Mrs. Ighodalo said.

Earlier in her address of welcome, Mrs. Egbichi Akinsanya, an Executive Director of the bank said the 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.

She said the theme of the programme, ‘Living a Legacy’ was also apt as it challenged everyone to celebrate the women in their lives as the foundations of communities and challenged women to make great impact in the lives of those around them.

Mrs. Akinsanya also noted that the launch of the One Woman on the International Women’s Day underscored the importance of women to the Bank and the need to celebrate the enduring legacy and accomplishments of women in education, business, science, art, medicine, public service, athletics, and every other field where they have made the world and the country a brighter and stronger place to live and work in harmony.

The Bank in a statement said “the programme is designed to honour the legacies of women of the past,  those who stood up for change and fought for the rights that we live and enjoy today; the women of the present who toil night and day to support the family and those women around the world who use their voice to help make the  world a brighter place for women; and the women of the future who will continue to champion women’s voices and causes to neutralize barriers and keep alive the achievements and plights of women in our society and the world at large.

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, customized 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.


 
Others are Womenpreneurship which includes internship opportunities and job shadowing schemes for Young Women with access to the MSME academy for free or at a discount. Free annual health checks for women the entire week of the International Women’s day in selected Sterling Bank branches is also being offered as part of the timely proposition.