In line with its commitment to championing women’s economic advancement in Nigeria, FSDH Merchant Bank has reaffirmed its leadership role with the successful hosting of the 2025 Women in Business Initiative (WIBI) Summit.
The milestone fifth edition, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together hundreds of female entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, creatives, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders to celebrate women who continue to drive growth, innovation, and resilience across the economy.
Themed, ‘Empowered – Celebrating Women in Motion,’ this year’s summit highlighted the real progress and persistent challenges shaping the female economy, while spotlighting FSDH’s expanding footprint in enabling women-led growth.
Delivering her opening remarks, Bukola Smith, Managing Director of FSDH Merchant Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to removing structural barriers for women and creating pathways to sustainable economic inclusion.
“WIBI was built on the belief that when women are equipped with the right systems, knowledge, and support, entire economies shift. Five years on, we are seeing that transformation play out, not just in individual success stories, but in the confidence, collaboration, and ambition now shaping our community. This year’s focus on the creative economy reinforces our commitment to backing women in sectors that define culture, influence markets, and shape Nigeria’s future,” she said.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by veteran actress, award-winning producer, and business leader Joke Silva, whose presence brought both depth and authenticity to the day’s conversations.
Drawing from her decades-long career in Nigeria’s creative industry, she spoke passionately about the importance of resilience, reinvention, and emotional intelligence as tools for navigating and excelling in an evolving economy.
Her message resonated strongly with emerging entrepreneurs, creatives, and corporate professionals seeking to build sustainable legacies, even as she emphasized the need for proper training and skills development to prepare young talents for global competitiveness.
“Today, FSDH celebrates five years of impact for women in business — five years of grace, growth, and undeniable progress. Across history, women have stood as beacons of excellence in every industry, and their stories continue to inspire us to push boundaries and create room for even more women to rise. Nigeria is blessed with a large pool of young talent, particularly within the creative industry, which has the potential to absorb and empower thousands. However, the reality remains that while current training initiatives provide exposure, they often fall short in delivering the depth of skills required for global competitiveness,” she said.
Joke added that “What is needed now is intentional selection, targeted skilling, and accelerated capacity building, so that young women and all creative talents are fully equipped to thrive, lead, and compete on the global stage.”
The panel session featured a dynamic lineup of thought leaders who unpacked the realities facing women in business today. Jide Sipe, Group Head of Brand Transformation and Digital Marketing at the Bank of Industry, brought a development finance perspective, emphasizing the role of structured funding and capacity building in scaling women-led ventures. Award-winning filmmaker and producer Biodun Stephen provided insight into the creative and technical challenges facing women in film and media, underscoring the need for stronger institutional support for creatives.
While sharing thoughts during the panel session, Blessing Obasi-Nze, an actress and CEO of Desperanza Media, shared the story of how she came to the limelight and her evolution since then, adding that young creative talents should focus on being original, authentic, and consistent in their pursuit of success. The session was moderated by TV host and media personality Olive Emodi, who guided a rich, high-energy discussion on leadership, brand-building, access and the shifting economic landscape for women.
Across the conversations, a recurring theme emerged: women are not only participating more actively in Nigeria’s economic narrative—they are driving its next growth curve. From entrepreneurship and digital innovation to creative exports and corporate leadership, Nigerian women continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and ingenuity. The WIBI Summit offered both a mirror and a megaphone for these stories, amplifying their visibility and providing a platform for meaningful dialogue.
While speaking to the measurable impact of FSDH’s Women in Business Desk, Stella-Marie Omogbai, Executive Director, FSDH Merchant Bank, stated that over the past five years, the Bank had disbursed more than $3.9 million (₦3 billion+) in loans to women-led businesses, working closely with partners such as BOI, IFC, AGF, and WEAV Capital to deliver blended financial solutions and targeted interventions.
“Our capacity-building programmes—including the Women Business Impact Programme delivered with the Enterprise Development Centre, the Female Founders Growth Programme run in collaboration with IFC and WEAV, and the WIBI Coaching Programme—have provided training, mentorship, and market access to over 500 women-led SMEs. With more than 2,000 women engaged across summits, masterclasses, coaching cohorts, and accelerator programmes, WIBI continues to serve as one of the country’s most influential platforms for female enterprise development,” she said.
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized that unlocking the potential of the creative economy requires more than episodic support. It demands structural reforms, patient capital, industry collaboration, and platforms that recognize women as economic powerhouses—not just beneficiaries. FSDH’s approach, combining access to finance, capacity-building, market access, and community, was widely commended by panelists and participants alike.
The energy across the summit reflected not only celebration but momentum, even as the WIBI platform awarded outstanding women in business across different industries. Participants expressed optimism about the future, citing improved access to information, shifts in social norms, and institutional support as enablers of women’s economic mobility. Many described the 2025 edition as the most inspiring and strategic yet, particularly as it marked the fifth anniversary of WIBI’s journey.
With the successful hosting of the 2025 Summit, FSDH Merchant Bank continues to deepen its influence and reaffirm its commitment to gender-focused development, a commitment that aligns with both national and global ambitions to drive inclusive growth. As the Bank prepares for the next wave of interventions, the underlying message from the day was clear: when women are empowered, entire economies shift.
