Olive Microfinance Bank is pleased to announce that its Managing Director, Ure Okezie, has been honored with the prestigious Microfinance Executive of the Year award at the Leadership Excellence Awards (LEEX), held on 31 October 2025.
The Leadership Excellence Awards (LEEX) is a nationally recognized program dedicated to identifying and celebrating individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership across business, politics, education, social development, and humanitarian work. The award recognizes Ms. Okezie’s exceptional commitment to ethical leadership, sustainable financial inclusion, and her strategic role in advancing microfinance as a catalyst for growth among underserved communities.
In her remarks, Ms Okezie expressed gratitude for the recognition, dedicating the award to her team, clients, and partners who continue to believe in the transformative power of financial empowerment. She emphasized that leadership is a shared responsibility, grounded in character and the everyday choices individuals make. “Excellence in leadership is not just the responsibility of those in public office, every citizen is a leader in their own sphere. Nations transform when individuals choose integrity, reject shortcuts, and commit to doing what is right, no matter how small. If we each decide to lead with excellence in our daily actions, a new kind of leadership will emerge, and a new Nigeria will rise one built by all of us, starting with each of us.” She said.
Under her leadership, Olive Microfinance Bank has expanded access to affordable financial products tailored to traders, SMEs, women entrepreneurs, and emerging businesses. Her impact continues to be felt through initiatives that promote financial literacy, enterprise development, and community upliftment.
Speaking on the award, the Board of Directors described. Ms Okezie as “a visionary and disciplined leader whose values-driven approach reflects the true spirit of service and nation building.”
As Nigeria continues to advance financial inclusion and grassroots economic growth, Ms Okezie’s recognition serves as a timely reminder of the role leaders and institutions can play in shaping a more equitable and prosperous future.