To support the
reduction of gender gap across employment and entrepreneurship and in line with
its commitment to the Nigeria2Equal program with the International Finance
Corporation and building an inclusive society for women and overall economic
growth, Bolt, the leading mobility app, recently held a Capacity Building
Summit on Financial Independence, Leadership, & Self Defence among women in
Nigeria.
Reviewing data from Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) which shows a relative gender gap of 33% in Nigeria’s financial inclusion rate between men and women, it is imperative to foster discussions that seek to improve financial literacy and impact the financial well-being of Nigerian women. The summit held at the Grand Junction Hall, Landmark Towers on the 3rd of April 2023 themed “Promoting Financial Inclusion and Independence for Women”, had Bolt’s female employees, Bolt’s female drivers, and Tosin Olaseinde, Founder of Money Africa, all gathered to discuss the prospect of closing the financial inclusion gap and promoting financial independence.
Bolt’s Female Employees at Bolt’s Women’s Summit on Financial Independence, Leadership & Self Defence in Lagos.
While speaking
at the event, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Senior Public Policy Manager for West and
Central Africa, discussed the importance of the summit for Bolt. She said, “Diversity,
equity, and inclusion is important to the fabric of Bolt. This year’s
summit we decided to take it a step
further by delving beyond tech into the well-being of female entrepreneurs on
our platforms and our female employees. After deliberating on the key issues
impacting their well-being, we decided to focus the summit on tools to promote
financial independence and safety, which tie into the core values of Bolt.
At Bolt, we know that women are resourceful and dependable. They have the brainpower, technical skills, intuition, and wisdom needed to move industries and nations forward. We encourage all organisations to take a step forward by empowering the women in their communities, even beyond their immediate employees. Hundreds are impacted when one woman is empowered”, she concluded.
Oluwatosin Olaseinde, Founder, Money Africa and Bolt’s Female Drivers at at Bolt’s Women’s Summit on Financial Independence, Leadership & Self Defence in Lagos.
Also speaking at
the summit, Tosin Olaseinde, the keynote speaker, shared that organisations
need to contribute a quota to inclusive growth for women in Nigeria. She said,
“Financial
literacy is an extremely important lesson for Nigerian women. Research has shown
that when money is in the hands of women, it boosts the entire family and
community creating a ripple effect. It is important for companies to play their
parts in creating inclusive growth, especially for women, because when
employees are financially literate, they are happier and more productive.”
The event also included self-defence workshops for female drivers and employees, furthering Bolt’s commitment to safety. The upcoming launch of a digital community for Bolt’s female drivers was announced at the event with the intention of providing a safe space and direct access to support staff and tools when necessary. Through this and its upgraded safety features, Bolt intends to ensure safe mobility for all on its platform.