News

33% Of Entry-Level Formal Jobs In Nigeria Held By Women – Report

Published

12 months ago

May 13, 2025

…explain why women’s representation remains low across Nigeria’s formal private sector

McKinsey & Company today released its latest Women in the Workplace report, extending its landmark research series to Kenya, Nigeria, and India for the first time. Launched at the Africa CEO Forum 2025 today—the continent’s largest private sector convening—the research sheds new light on the systemic barriers affecting women’s participation in the formal economies of Nigeria, India, and Kenya.

Drawing on data from 324 organizations across Nigeria, India, and Kenya employing roughly 1.4 million people, the research reveals that women hold just 33% of entry-level positions in the Nigerian formal private sector – signaling that the gender gap is wide at the point of entry. Once women enter the workforce, their representation remains relatively steady across the pipeline, with 29% of both managerial and C-suite positions held by women.

Quote Placeholder:

“The data tells a clear story: Nigeria’s leadership gap is rooted in the entry-level barrier,” said Mayowa Kuyoro, Partner at McKinsey & Company and co-author of the report. “Once women are in the system, they advance steadily, but the path remains too narrow at the start.”

Key findings for Nigeria:

Entry-level barrier: Only one in three entry-level formal sector roles are held by women, despite broader workforce participation.

Stable pipeline beyond entry: While women see a drop from entry-level to the managerial role (33% to 29%), women’s representation remains relatively consistent in the more senior ranks, with women holding approximately 28 to 29 out of every 100 roles from the manager to the C-suite level.

Senior women’s career fluidity: Senior women in Nigeria are more likely than men to be promoted but are also more likely to exit or make lateral moves.

Policies and practices are correlated with better outcomes in women’s representation across India, Kenya and Nigeria, but successfully implementing them is critical.

There is a set of baseline policies around safety and security and bias mitigation that are correlated with better outcomes for women that are already in place across a wide range of companies.

The report identified a set of differentiator policies that are not yet widely spread but are significantly more prevalent in better-performing companies on gender equity. Among better performing companies:

Flexible work options were 34% more likely to be present

Mentorship and sponsorship policies were 33% more likely to be present

Family and personal care policies were 23% more likely to be present

However, there were still a range of lower performing companies with many of the policies in place, highlighting the critical role of effective implementation.

• Moving from Commitment to Action
o While 77% of the organizations surveyed report gender diversity as a CEO priority, only 66% have in place basic tracking mechanisms – such as measuring hiring and promotion rates – and a mere 15% of boards hold accountability for gender equity.

• Three steps to kickstart progress for organizations
• The report proposes a three-part action plan – Diagnose, Design, Monitor – for Nigerian employers to foster progress:

1. Diagnose pipeline challenges through regular, disaggregated tracking of hiring, promotions, and attrition by gender.
2. Design: adopt, implement and evolve baseline and differentiator practices, with mentorship, sponsorship, and family care as priorities.

3. Monitor: Institutionalize tracking mechanisms and accountability at board and senior leadership levels to ensure gender equity is embedded in organizational performance.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.