To celebrate Women’s World Banking’s 45th anniversary, we are showcasing the voices of individuals from around the world who have shaped and touched Women’s World Banking journey since its inception in 1979 at Commission on the Status of Women to today!
These are stories from across Women’s World Banking’s reach from the women we serve and our customers, to allies and women in leadership who have contributed to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
As Women’s World Banking celebrates its 45th anniversary, we’re spotlighting the changemakers whose passion and leadership have propelled women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion forward. One such leader is Martha Ibrahim, Team Lead, Regulatory Development & Approvals at NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), whose commitment to creating opportunities for women in finance has driven transformative change in Nigeria.
A Lifelong Commitment to Empowerment
For Martha, the importance of financial literacy and access has always been deeply personal. Growing up in Nigeria, one of the world’s most gender unequal countries in terms of financial access, she witnessed how financial independence transformed her maternal aunt’s life. Her aunt’s early investments in blue-chip stocks—spurred by her father’s focus on financial education—enabled her to build a safety net, achieve independence, and become a beacon of strength for her family. “Over time, these seemingly modest investments grew, providing her with a financial safety net and the confidence to pursue her dreams,” Martha recalls.
This example left an indelible mark on Martha, inspiring her to champion financial literacy and inclusion for other women. Today, as a leader at NGX RegCo, Martha works tirelessly to create a regulatory environment that fosters inclusion and investor protection while addressing the barriers that keep women from fully participating in financial markets. “Women are exceptional investors, often modeling healthy money behaviors such as being risk-conscious, patient, and disciplined,” she explains.
The Leadership & Diversity Program: Sparking Transformational Change
Martha’s leadership journey took a pivotal turn when she joined Women’s World Banking’s Leadership & Diversity Program for Regulators (LDR) in 2023. Reflecting on her experience, Martha describes the program as a game-changer, providing her with invaluable tools to drive meaningful change in the financial ecosystem. “The LDR program provided an invaluable platform to refine my skills, and learning alongside global regulators and industry leaders broadened my understanding of how to create policies that not only meet regulatory objectives but also drive inclusion and social impact,” she says.
Inspired by the program’s emphasis on inclusion and actionable solutions, Martha led the team in launching EquipHER, NGX RegCo’s groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian women to participate in the capital market. EquipHER tackles significant barriers, including limited financial literacy and cultural perceptions, through financial education workshops that simplify investment concepts and empower women to make informed investment decisions.
Martha’s advice for considering joining the LDR program? “Go for it!” Martha’s experience underscores the program’s ability to empower leaders to create policies and initiatives that drive real-world impact for women everywhere.
EquipHER: Building a Legacy of Empowerment
Since its inception, EquipHER has made an extraordinary impact. In 2024, the program partnered with Fintribe for its second Finance Fair, which attracted over 7,000 women. The initiative’s success lies in its collaborative approach, which brings together like-minded organizations to amplify its reach and impact. “The enthusiasm from the attendees validated the impact of continuous partnerships with other organizations sharing similar goals to continue to create more impact for women in promoting financial independence,” Martha notes.
Through EquipHER, Martha envisions not only breaking down barriers for women but also fostering a new generation of leaders in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. “I hope EquipHER will be remembered as a catalyst for systematic and visionary change, fostering a generation of financially empowered women who continuously educate themselves, confidently embrace opportunities, and realize their economic power,” she shares.
Four months after the launch of EquipHER, the number of active female investors in the Nigerian capital market had increased from an initial count of 164,396 to 183,352, already marking a 11.5% increase. This impressive progress is part of the initiative’s goal to achieve a 23% increase in active female investor participation by 2028. Download the case study here.
A Call to Action
Martha’s vision for the future is bold and inspiring. “I encourage women to step boldly into the world of investing, drive innovation and growth in the capital market, and maximize their earning potential,” she states.
Her passion for empowering women and her commitment to breaking barriers in the financial world serve as a reminder that lasting change begins with bold action. Martha’s journey proves that when women are given the tools and opportunities to succeed, they can transform not only their own lives but also the economic landscape for generations to come.
Women’s World Banking is dedicated to economic empowerment through financial inclusion for the nearly one billion women in the world with no or limited access to formal financial services. Using our sophisticated market and consumer research, we turn insights into real action to design and advocate for policy engagement, digital financial solutions, workplace leadership programs, and gender lens investing.
As part of our current strategy, we’ve helped provide over 83 million women in emerging markets – targeting 100 million by 2027 – access and use of financial products and services that are transforming women’s lives, households, businesses and communities, and driving inclusive growth globally.
Help us reach the nearly billion women still excluded from the formal financial system. Donate now.
