It was a moment of pride and celebration as Zenith Bank Plc partnered with the Ford Foundation to honour 19 remarkable Nigerian women, described as unsung “Sheros”, with the inaugural Woman of Power Award.
The event took place on Saturday, 28 March 2026, at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Themed “Celebrating Resilience, Leadership, and Generosity,” the award recognises women who have demonstrated extraordinary strength, leadership, and impact despite the significant challenges posed by patriarchal societal structures in Nigeria.
According to the organisers, the initiative provides a platform to spotlight unsung “Sheroes” — everyday women who are making meaningful contributions in their communities and fields. These include market women, small-scale business owners, community leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and many others whose vital roles often go unnoticed.
The Ford Foundation and Zenith Bank noted that each awardee exhibited excellence in several key areas, including leadership and initiative, community impact, innovativeness and resourcefulness, perseverance, integrity, community trust, and philanthropy.
The recipients hail from diverse towns and villages across Nigeria, reflecting the grassroots nature of their contributions.
Among those honoured are:
- Mrs Regina Amankulor, a retired nurse empowering young people in Umuode-Nsulu community, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State;
- Mary Matanmi, Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists, Lagos State chapter;
- Ifeanyi P. Ugwueze, a Guidance Counsellor and Life Coach who continues to thrive despite blindness and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree.
Others include:
- Amina Musa, a trade educator based in Karonmajiji, AMAC, Abuja;
- Adenike A. Lambo, the Iyaloja of Ilorin;
- Sadiya Abubakar, an educator in Jibi (Deidei), Bwari Area Council, FCT;
- Erikan Idem Andrew, a market woman with significant community impact in Port Harcourt;
- Ngozi B. Nwankpa, an Aba-based fashion designer;
- Hadiza Umar, a Development Specialist based in Kaduna, Kaduna State;
- Beauty Everest Dauda, a roasted corn seller in Abuja, FCT;
- Joy C. Ezenwa (aka Mama Amala), a trader at Sabon Gari Market, Kano;
- Mrs Deborah Abosede Ajose, an informal midwife in Mushin, Lagos;
- Shola Esther Babalola (Mama Sho), promoter of natural honey and founder of the Mama Sho Honey brand in Lagos;
- Yidiat Fatai Omotunde (Mama Agba), a petty trader at Ebute Ero, Lagos Island;
- Mrs Bola Rasaki, a drinks seller at Ebute Ero, Lagos Island;
- Kudirat Adebayo, a fabric seller at Balogun Market, Lagos Island;
- Aishatu Gafar, a trader at Balogun Market, Lagos;
- Zainab Atanda (Alhaja Iya Yusuf), a trader at Balogun Market, Lagos;
- Josephine Ugwu, a staff member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), honoured for her honesty in recovering and returning millions of naira mistakenly dropped by passengers at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
In her keynote address, Adobi Nwapa, Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, praised the awardees and reaffirmed the bank’s strong commitment to women’s empowerment.
The Regional Director of the Ford Foundation, Dr Catherine C. Aniagolu, described the Woman of Power Award as an eye-opener, noting that her team’s journey across the country revealed the vast and often overlooked facets of human potential among Nigerian women.
Both the Ford Foundation and Zenith Bank Plc have pledged to sustain and grow the initiative in the coming years.
The event was organised by Tricom Productions.
