Union Bank Invests in Female Entrepreneurs at WIMBIZ Summit

Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) has reasserted its position as a strategic partner in advancing economic growth and gender equity by taking a prominent position at the 2025 WIMBIZ Annual Conference in Lagos.

The Bank’s participation also reaffirmed its role as a partner in Nigeria’s development, supporting women’s empowerment initiatives.

Organised under the theme ‘O.W.N: Own. Walk. Nurture’, the conference served as a key forum for galvanising female leadership and commerce.

The conference, which encouraged women to lead, grow and build lasting impact, created an atmosphere charged with the collective ambition of thousands of women determined to reshape narratives around leadership, commerce and equity.

The bank demonstrated its commitment through sponsorship of the Business Pitch Competition, funding entrepreneurs via its dedicated platform, alpher, which turns ideas into real businesses. The support aligns with the bank’s belief that empowering women economically helps create a stronger, more resilient nation.

By funding the aspirations of burgeoning entrepreneurs via alpher, Union Bank provided the critical capital necessary to convert diverse business ideas into operational realities.

The bank promotes alpher as a lifestyle ecosystem that aids women to “O.W.N” their lives by granting access to collateral-free loans essential for business expansion, connecting them to professional mentorship networks and providing capacity-building training.

The platform also supports women’s wellness with benefits like discounted healthcare to promote personal well-being alongside business growth.

Olufunmilola Aluko, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer of the bank, expressed the intentionality behind the institution’s support, saying the partnership with WIMBIZ is a clear testament to the bank’s conviction that for Nigeria to thrive, women must be empowered to fully Own, Walk and Nurture their potential.

Aluko explained that every time they fund a business pitch or provide the alpher platform, they are essentially giving women the resources to Own their unique stories and Walk with authority in the competitive marketplace.

Union Bank, she affirmed, is committed to helping women entrepreneurs Nurture these businesses into institutions that will drive the national economy forward, ensuring that every step they take is a step toward a more prosperous future for themselves and the entire nation.

The event saw the participation of prominent female leaders within Union Bank, including the Chief Talent Officer and heads of various departments as well as several other female employees across various levels and units of the bank.

Union Bank’s efforts align seamlessly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 5 on Gender Equality, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.

The conference, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, drew thousands of women leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals. The event also featured speeches from dignitaries such as Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and renowned economist Arunma Oteh.