Access Bank, PMI offer women 25% off project management exams
- Access Bank's W Initiative and the Project Management Institute are partnering to make project management certifications cheaper for Nigerian women.
- Eligible women get 25% off CAPM and PMP exam fees, with training partners cutting prep course costs by up to 50% until December 2026.
- PMI says Nigeria may need up to 211,000 more project professionals by 2035, and women hold far fewer of these roles than men.
Access Bank, through its W Initiative, has teamed up with the Project Management Institute (PMI) to help more Nigerian women earn globally recognised project management certificates.
Under the deal, eligible women get a 25 per cent discount on exam fees for PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications. Participating PMI Authorised Training Partners are also cutting the cost of exam preparation courses by up to 50 per cent until December 2026.
The offer is open to existing Access Bank customers and to women who open new accounts. To qualify, a woman needs an active Access Bank account and a W Debit Card, must complete the programme's registration and verification, and must meet PMI's requirements for the certificate she chooses.
Why it matters
The bank and PMI say the gap is real. A McKinsey report on women in the workplace in India, Nigeria and Kenya found that although women make up about half of Nigeria's workforce, they hold only one in three entry-level positions in the formal private sector.
In project management, PMI's 2023 report on women in the field found men outnumber women three to one worldwide.
At the same time, demand for people who can run projects is growing. According to PMI's Global Talent Gap report, Nigeria could need up to 211,000 additional project professionals by 2035, both to handle new work and to replace those leaving the workforce. Across sub-Saharan Africa, demand is projected to rise by up to 75 per cent, to 4.6 million professionals by 2035.
PMI says project management skills are useful in banking, technology, healthcare, construction, energy and agriculture, and can move with a worker from one industry to another.
The CAPM is for people starting out and does not require prior project management experience, though candidates must meet the education and training rules. The PMP is for experienced professionals and tests their track record.
George Asamani, Managing Director of PMI Sub-Saharan Africa, said Nigeria needs more people who can deliver projects successfully.
"Women have an important role to play in meeting this demand," he said.
Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, Head of the Women Banking Team at Access Bank, said supporting women's financial goals also means helping them invest in their skills and earning power.
The W Initiative is Access Bank's main platform for women, offering loans and credit, mentorship and training, and a community that provides financial and business advice.
What happens next
Women who want the discount should register through the programme and confirm they meet PMI's rules for their chosen certificate. The training partner discounts run until December 2026.
