Access Bank Plc has said it initiated various strategies to ensure gender parity in its organisation.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2015 global gender calendar report, the world will require another 117 years to close the extensive economic gap between men and women.
To this end, the bank explained in a statement on Thursday that it has taken a decision to speed up the process and also pledged to make gender parity a priority.
The financial institution noted that the move would help include and advance women in every society.
This, it stated served as a demonstration of its commitment to gender equality, women empowerment and inclusiveness, to which its ‘W’ initiative is dedicated. As part of the outlined programmes, the bank hosted a workshop on Gender Balance for its male staff and customers aligned with the theme for this years’ celebration ‘Pledge for Parity’ to elicit participants’ commitments on helping women and girls achieve their ambition, challenge conscious and unconscious bias and subscribe to the concept of gender balanced leadership.
The session was mainly targeted at male participants and leading organisations, would also encourage equal valuation of the contributions of women and men in the workplaces and the society at la
The session facilitated by idea builders was designed, to inspire men to support the cause of women and promote gender parity. The session is not only conceived to enlighten participants about the gender equality, but also raise advocates for women cause and build an army of defenders for the rights of girl-child.
“As a vociferous voice in the campaign for gender parity and women empowerment, Access Bank has continued to lend its resources to issues of gender empowerment, inclusiveness and diversity,” the statement added.
According to its Group Head, Inclusive Banking, Ope Wemi-Jones “Our operations and services are designed and tailored to meet expectations and needs of every human being, regardless of gender, race, belief and religion.
“However, based on observed bias against women and social prejudices against the girl-child, Access Bank has remained at the forefront of gender fairness and peaceful coexistence. By this, we hope to realign the world with the fact that equal opportunity is a catalyst for global development.”thisday.
