By Ayomide Otitoju
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the London Business School (LBS) Alumni Community Nigeria hosted a private brunch and fireside chat featuring Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Group Managing Director and CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc.
Held in Lagos, the exclusive gathering brought together senior executives from finance, FMCG, and investment sectors for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and this year’s global Women’s Month theme: Accelerate Action.
Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe, the first female CEO in Fidelity Bank’s history, shared insights from her trailblazing career in Nigeria’s banking sector, emphasizing grit, strategic vision, and values-driven leadership.
“I have never acknowledged the gender glass ceiling in my life,” she said. “What looks like a barrier is often just motivation to push harder.”
Drawing from her journey in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe spoke on overcoming setbacks, embracing calculated risks, and leading with purpose. She highlighted the importance of balance, especially for women navigating both professional and personal responsibilities.
“Balancing family and career is not just key to business success—it’s essential to success in life,” she noted.
An advocate for gender equity, she pointed out that 11 of Nigeria’s 26 commercial banks are now led by women, urging continued momentum: “That’s progress, but we must not stop there. We want to see that number grow.”
LBS Alumni Nigeria President, Akintayo Sanwo-Olu, closed the event by reaffirming the group’s commitment to fostering inclusive leadership.
“We’re not just talking about change—we’re building it,” he said. “Our goal is to empower more women to lead across industries.”
The event underscored the influence of purpose-driven leadership and highlighted Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe as a defining voice in the movement to redefine leadership in Nigeria and beyond.
