FNB focuses on women
By ANDREW MUKOMA
FIRST National Bank (FNB) says it has made a resolution to improve the welfare and lives of women in Zambia by engaging them in small and medium enterprises.
Chief Executive Officer Bydon Longwe has disclosed that this is the more reason why the Bank has launched a product dubbed Helping Every Woman Rise – abbreviated H.E.R which intends to promote and uplift the lives of women in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the product in Livingstone, Mr Longwe said, so far, the number of women the Bank has empowered has gone up since it opened its Livingstone Branch.
And Livingstone Mayor Constance Muleabai noted that the H.E.R a women’s proposition by FNB Zambia acknowledges women’s positive contribution to economic growth through robust financial solutions and businesses linkages.
Ms Muleabai said that having access to, and use of a range of financial services enhances not only the contribution of women and women-led business to growth, but also contributes to women’s self-sufficiency, allows for better use of their personal and household resources, and reduces the vulnerability of their households and businesses.
“Helping Every Woman to Rise is what we all aspire to do because when you educate and uplift a woman, you are building a nation, as they say.
Government acknowledges that H.E.R has come timely when there is excitement on change and empowerment because we echo the sentiments that one simple change can make the biggest difference,” she said.
The Mayor said that the new dawn government is delighted that FNB Zambia is demonstrating commitment to invest in the promotion of products and services that address financial inclusion for women in particular and addressing the challenges in setting up businesses.
“We look forward to more of such initiatives that will change the narrative of women not in only in Zambia but across the Southern Africa region and indeed the continent,” she said
Ms Muleabai said it is only through initiatives like H.E.R that the country can positively and collectively support the women.
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