October 17, 2022 – 100 Women in Finance (“100WF”), a global nonprofit finance industry organization, today announces its further expansion to 32 locations and its third in Africa with the addition of Nigeria.
100WF’s global network and programs build a more diverse and gender-equitable finance industry by promoting diversity of thought, raising visibility, and empowering women to find their personal path to career success. 100WF’s guiding principle, Vision 30/40, aims to increase the percentage of women in investment and executive leadership roles to 30% by 2040.
With the organization’s newest location, Nigeria, 100WF will deepen its reach to pre-career women and finance professionals across the banking, private equity, venture capital, and FinTech sectors, among others, in West Africa. Amanda Pullinger, CEO, 100WF, commented: “We are excited for the growth opportunity in Nigeria to connect individuals locally and across the globe around key themes of industry education and development of the next generation of professionals. I was honored to attend a series of exploratory events earlier this year to grow awareness of 100WF’s mission, highlight the growing percentage of senior women occupying high-level roles within the Nigerian finance industry, and provide women in finance a platform to be visible.”
Comprised of industry professionals in Nigeria, the four founding committee members Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management; Taiwo Okwor, Vice President of Africa Finance Corporation; Nieros Oyegun Soerensen, Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Verod Capital; and Tariye Gbadegesin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ARM Harith Infrastructure Investment Corporation stated: “We are elated to have Nigeria join the 100WF community and so delighted that through this location we will be able to bring 100WF’s global content and network to women in finance in Nigeria across all stages of their career journey. The percentage of senior women occupying leadership roles within the Nigerian finance industry today is far higher than in most developed markets and other emerging markets. Still, many of these women are not known. Through this new location, we will support women to build their personal networks, discover opportunities, expand their knowledge base, and to inspire the next generation of women in finance. We aim to create a vibrant community of women in finance, encourage women to be visible, put initiatives in place to help boost the retention of early career women in the industry and close the existing gender gap across all levels of the finance industry. We are excited to be a part of an organization that is at the forefront of change in our industry and believe that 100WF through their exceptional global reach can empower women in Nigeria to access greater global opportunities.”.
Nigeria’s launch event will be scheduled in the first quarter of 2023 with subsequent events to follow.
To learn more about the events leading up to the establishment of 100WF in Nigeria click here.
100WF Membership is open to all – women and men – and draws professionals from a wide spectrum of the finance industry who support its mission. 100WF encourages inquiries from individuals and corporates on membership and sponsorship opportunities. Please email nigeria@100women.org with any questions.