Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, member of Standard Bank Group, has launched its Blue Blossom community, a gathering of women from diverse backgrounds who come together to support each other while leveraging various benefits offered by the financial institution to meet the unique needs of the Nigerian woman.
According to World Bank, women comprise 43.83 per cent of the labour force, and 43 per cent of businesses worldwide are owned by women. Despite increased financial services in Africa’s biggest economy in the last decade, 98 per cent of women still lack access to formal credit markets, according to a recent report by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisor (RPA), Gender Centre of Excellence.
Off the back of these realities, Stanbic IBTC Blue Blossom Community was launched to enable women access financial and non-financial services, from banking services to non-banking services, including investments, retirement services, children accounts, free access to capacity-building sessions and special events.
A report by Leadership newspaper quotes the chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David- Borha as saying that the Blue Blossom is a community that is specially created for women to achieve financial dignity, saying to attain financial dignity, the woman should cash flow and do not have to beg for fund.
She said, the community, Blue Blossom, is not out to take advantage of women but is focused in making sure that women build a sustainable business as shared values are an important part of this community.
Speaking on the community, Executive Director, Business and Commercial Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Remy Osuagwu, stated that, women are the backbone of established societies and thus must be supported to contribute to growing communities in Nigeria.
He said: “when women are exposed to and groomed in the art and science of business, coupled with receiving equitable financial services with affordable credit facilities, their potential for growth, leadership, and success is boundless.”
Osuagwu described the Blue Blossom community as a multi-value platform that seeks to provide an enabling ecosystem for women as young as 18 and nurture them into their best versions.
Executive director, Stanbic IBTC Trustees Limited, Emi Agaba-Oloja, said: “women must maximise their gifts of organisation and nurture in business, career, and family. We have factored these into the Blue Blossom community to foster a sense of togetherness and serve as a reservoir of resources among Nigerian women from all walks of life.”
Highlighting the benefits of belonging to the community, Agaba-Oloja said, the benefits of being a member of the community included free business clinic, career or business development sessions, mentorship through masterclasses, access to CHESS account for their children/wards, access to market and network via community and many more.
Head, Consumer Clients, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Sadiya Ojo, said: “the community is open to every woman, and you do not necessarily need to own an account with Stanbic IBTC to be a member of the Blue Blossom community. However, to have unhindered access to financial services, you may need to open an account.”
