Nigeria, April 8 -- The Bank of Industry (BOI) has defended its record on women's representation, following a PREMIUM TIMES report highlighting persistent underrepresentation at its board and senior management levels over the past five years.

In a statement issued in response to our story, the bank said women remain central to its leadership and operations, arguing that its broader leadership ecosystem reflects stronger gender inclusion than board figures alone suggest.

The agency did not dispute PREMIUM TIMES' findings that women were grossly underrepresented on its board, its topmost decision-making organ, but said there was a need to distinguish between board composition and institutional leadership. It also referenced a sponsored po...