Okoya appointed chairperson of the Commission for the Empowerment of Women

An Executive Director of NOVA Merchant Bank, Ms. Funke Okoya, has been appointed Chairperson of the Women in Finance Nigeria (WIFNG) Women's Empowerment Commission.

Okoya and four other new leaders were announced at a recent International Partnership/Affiliate signing with Women Working for Change, an arm of the African CEO Forum, Africa's largest international private sector forum.

New EXCO members, selected from the organization's committed senior staff, are charged with the specific responsibility of chairing the association's five new commissions.

The appointment of Ms. Okoya as President has been described as a major boost for women's capacity building in Nigeria and is expected to drive initiatives that advance the cause of women, the pursuit of financial education and the inclusion of women while promoting gender parity.

Speaking at the event, Chairperson of Women in Finance Nigeria, Ms. Toyin Sanni said, “We are very pleased with the launch of these important commissions under the leadership of these dynamic senior executives as well as the election of our new National Secretary who have all served honorably, over time, at WIFNG."

Okoya, who expressed enthusiasm at the appointment, said, "This appointment is designed to respond to the aspirations of women in Nigeria and further enrich the conversation on capacity building, providing access to finance, expanding the realizing value and adding relevance, recognition and network for women.”

She added that the expanded executive committee demonstrates the association's commitment to supporting women across the country by providing leadership and sustainable professional development to women, through creative coalition and partnerships with organizations. international women's organizations such as Women Working for Change.

Okoya is Executive Director, Investment Banking and Subsidiaries at NOVA Merchant Bank, and has led key initiatives that are transforming the bank into a leadership position. She is responsible for the growth and oversight of the Bank's subsidiaries including Asset Management, Securities Trading, Public Sector Group and Investment Banking. During her tenure at the Bank, she was responsible for Business Development for Corporate Banking, Power Banking, Product/Channel and Digital Banking. She has over 22 years of experience in corporate and investment banking, commercial banking, credit and risk management, operations, client services, technology, management project management, branding, strategy and communications.

Prior to joining the Bank, she was Director of Creation and Client Coverage at Emerging Africa Capital Group and served as Group Head of Corporate Banking at Coronation Merchant Bank. She was Regional Bank Manager, Commercial Banking Group at Access Bank Plc and Pioneer Business Leader of two branches at United Bank for Africa Plc. She started her career in Risk Management and Commercial Banking Group at Ecobank Nigeria Plc.

In his congratulatory message, NOVA Merchant Bank Chairman Mr. Phillips Oduoza said that Funke is at the forefront of gender diversity, sustainability and female inclusion, adding "As a board of directors, we are pleased with the recognition that will elevate the commission to the next level under his chairmanship.”

NOVA Merchant Bank is a leading merchant bank in Nigeria that offers an integrated suite of financial solutions covering financial intermediation, wholesale and investment banking, asset and wealth management, business services, transaction banking, cash management and digital banking.

WIFNG is a non-profit organization registered in 2016 to provide policy advocacy for greater representation of women in the financial sector and in financial roles in public and private sector organizations. WIFNG advocates for positive economic policies and is a platform for women in financial roles to collectively address labor and societal challenges that affect women. WIFNG also provides opportunities for capacity building, networking and economic empowerment. In 2019, she set up and registered her UK chapter, WIFNG UK, a vibrant organization for African women working in the financial services industry in the UK.

Okoya graduated in Business Administration from the University of Lagos and holds an MBA from the Business School Netherlands. She is an alumnus of INSEAD Business School where she completed its Advanced Corporate Finance program. She is a Certified Fellow and Board Member of the Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers.

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