Women have been urged to prioritise value creation, collaboration and mentorship as key pathways to leadership and sustained impact in the corporate sector.
This call was made at the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Firstbank Women Network. The event was held at the Balmoral Hall, Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Delivering the keynote address, Non-Executive Director at FirstBank, Tope Omage described the FirstBank Women Network as a strategic platform designed to strengthen women’s leadership capacity within the institution and support their advancement through collaboration and mentorship.
According to her, the network embodies what she described as “structured sisterhood,” where women support one another in navigating career growth and leadership responsibilities.
She said, “The FirstBank Women Network embodies what I call structured sisterhood. As women, we all need a sister. We cannot do anything solo and we cannot walk alone. God created us as social beings and we need one another.”
Omage noted that the network goes beyond social interaction and plays an important role in creating an enabling environment for women to grow professionally and assume leadership positions within the organisation.
She commended the management and board of First Bank of Nigeria Limited for establishing the initiative, noting that the network has helped expand opportunities for women across different levels of leadership in the bank.
“We have come a long way since 2019. This association was established to promote the advancement of women and we have since seen women transition into leadership roles, not to tick a box, but based on performance and merit,” she said.
Highlighting the theme of the event, “Give to Gain,” Omage explained that professional growth and influence require deliberate contributions and value creation.
“You cannot cultivate an empowering environment without giving. You cannot see returns without investing and you cannot foster advancement without contributing in one way or another,” she said.
According to her, the “Give to Gain” principle is anchored on the belief that individuals must first create value for others before they can benefit from it.
“The ‘Give to Gain’ strategy rests on a simple premise: value creation precedes value capture. You must create value for others before you can capture value for yourself,” she added.
She also emphasised the importance of mentorship and responsibility among women who attain leadership positions, urging them to support and guide others coming behind them.
“It is our duty that when you climb, you build the stairs to make it easier for the next woman to ascend and go even further than you have,” she said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olusegun Alebiosu, said women continue to play an important role in strengthening institutions and driving sustainable growth within the financial sector.
He noted that the bank remains committed to initiatives that promote gender inclusion and empower women to thrive professionally.
The Chairman, FirstBank Women Network, Olaitan Martins, also stressed the importance of mentorship and leadership development among women, noting that collective support and collaboration remain essential for building stronger institutions and expanding opportunities for women across the financial sector.