Nabil Bank successfully concludes ‘Women in Motion – Accelerate Action’ event

KATHMANDU: Nabil Bank organized the ‘Women in Motion – Accelerate Action’ event in Kathmandu on Monday, aimed at promoting women empowerment, capacity building, inclusivity, gender equality, and raising awareness.

The event was held with the purpose of advancing these values in both the banking sector and broader society.

The event was inaugurated by Sarita Bhatta Adhikari, the independent director of Nabil Bank.

Nabil Bank’s Chair, Upendra Prasad Poudel, emphasized the bank’s commitment to empowering women, enhancing their capacity, and providing equal opportunities.

He acknowledged that while women face challenges in the banking sector, there is no alternative but to resolve them and move forward.

“We are committed to ensuring gender equality. When gender inclusivity is achieved, it positively impacts all sectors,” said Chair Poudel. He also pointed out the historical trend of women being paid less than men globally but noted that recent times have seen some positive changes. “There are still instances of violence against women in workplaces, and some challenges remain. However, Nepal has recognized these issues and is working towards solutions,” he added. Poudel emphasized that Nabil Bank is focused on bringing women into leadership roles and creating opportunities for them. He highlighted the importance of women’s participation in economic development and stressed the need to eliminate longstanding societal inequalities.

On this occasion, Manoj Gyawali, Acting CEO of Nabil Bank, highlighted the need to increase women’s leadership in the banking sector.

He pointed out that the representation of women in banking leadership roles is still low, and such events play a crucial role in encouraging more women to participate and inspiring others.

Gyawali noted, “Women think differently than men, and I have observed that they are more focused and fact-oriented in their work.”

He also mentioned that women have proven to be more capable than men in governance, citing that women rarely face termination due to poor performance.

He emphasized that Nabil Bank is capable of maintaining a significant number of female employees and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

“Women face multiple responsibilities, from family duties to office work, which often leads to being caught in the middle. This is one reason why women’s representation is still not on par with expectations in many sectors. Therefore, increasing female participation is necessary for building inclusive workplaces,” Ghyawali said. He further emphasized that Nabil Bank is focused not just on speaking about women’s issues but on promoting gender equality.

The chief guest, Ashryata Karki Chaudhary, Chair of Nepal Super League, praised the event as a significant initiative toward achieving gender equality. “Nabil Bank’s investment in women’s empowerment and creating an inclusive workplace is a major contribution to the country’s broader economic development,” she said. “I believe women have played a huge role in bringing Nabil to where it is today,” she added.

She further noted that men’s role is crucial in the empowerment of women and urged everyone to support women in their homes, workplaces, and society. “For women to build a sustainable future in sports, banking, or any field, it’s not enough to just provide opportunities; cultural change is essential. We need to invest in young girls from an early age and encourage them to pursue their dreams without fear,” she said. She also highlighted that women’s participation brings not just skills and expertise but also new perspectives, ideas, and collaboration, which greatly influence the outcome.

During the group discussion titled ‘The C-Shift: Navigating Barriers and Catalyzing Leadership,’ speakers emphasized that women are capable of leading in various fields and are equally qualified to take on leadership roles. Environmental activist Silsila Acharya, Roji Kattel, and Dr. Ramji Ram shared their thoughts on women’s participation, empowerment, and opportunity creation. Senior Sub-editor at Kantipur, Yagya Banjade, moderated the discussion. The event saw the participation of over 200 male and female employees of Nabil Bank.

Nabil Bank has been organizing various programs throughout March focusing on women’s issues. The bank has conducted activities aimed at promoting gender equality, women empowerment, raising awareness, building personal capacity, and fostering a supportive community.

As part of its efforts, the bank’s ‘March in Wellness’ program benefited 35 female employees from the Kathmandu Valley and beyond, while the ‘Well-being of Women’ session helped 100 female employees.

The bank also organized a large-scale nationwide rally on International Women’s Day, which saw the participation of over 1,200 employees from Nabil Bank’s branches across the country.

Additionally, Nabil Bank held programs in the Koshi Province involving 68 female employees on workplace violence prevention and safety, and a program in the Madhesh Province aimed at creating safe and dignified workplaces for 50 employees.

The bank also organized discussions on menstruation and related challenges for all employees.

Nabil Bank is one of Nepal’s leading commercial banks, providing services to over 2.4 million customers through its 268 branches and 320 ATMs.

For over 40 years, Nabil has played a pivotal role in introducing innovative services in Nepal’s banking sector, contributing significantly to the development of banking in the country, and continuing to focus on providing quality services to its customers.