The Founder and Managing Director of Mayden, a female-focused and digitally enabled bank, Mrs. Foluke Alakija, has expressed profound appreciation for the visit of Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), describing her as a strong ally and advocate for women’s advancement in the financial services sector across Africa.
Speaking after the visit, Alakija said it was a delight to host Mrs. Awani at Mayden, noting that her commitment to supporting women-led enterprises and promoting inclusive financing has remained an inspiration to many female professionals and entrepreneurs across the continent.
“What a pleasure it was to host Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, at Mayden today. Kanayo has been such a pillar of support to us at Mayden and a true champion for banking women and impact financing across Africa. Her visit — even while on her way to the airport — meant so much to us,” Alakija stated.
She further emphasized the importance of women supporting one another in leadership and business, describing the visit as a reaffirmation of the shared vision between Mayden and Afreximbank to drive female inclusion and sustainable growth through innovative financial solutions.
“It’s always refreshing to spend time with women like Kanayo, who want other women to succeed. We’re deeply grateful for her encouragement, wisdom, and belief in what we’re building at Mayden,” she added.
Mrs. Awani’s visit underscored Afreximbank’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with gender-focused financial institutions and foster impact-driven partnerships that empower women across Africa’s banking and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Under Mrs. Alakija’s leadership, Mayden has positioned itself as a pioneering digitally enabled bank with a strong commitment to closing the gender gap in access to finance, offering innovative banking solutions designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, professionals, and small business owners.
Observers say the meeting reflects a growing synergy between women leaders in Africa’s financial landscape — one that continues to redefine the future of inclusive banking and gender empowerment on the continent.
