IGIHE has learned that the experienced banker has been confirmed for the position and will begin her new role in August 2024. She will be based at NCBA Group's headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
NCBA Group operates as an investment company with a presence in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Higiro's appointment is part of NCBA Group's strategy to streamline operations across all its banks, benefiting both employees and customers. This approach allows employees to move between branches or to the headquarters, based on their skills and expertise.
Since 2018, under Higiro's leadership, NCBA Bank Rwanda has experienced significant growth in assets and client loans. When she took over, the bank was grappling with a loss of Rwf2.5 billion but within three years, she transformed the bank into a new phase of profitability.
Statistics indicate that from 2019 to 2023, NCBA Bank Rwanda's assets increased from Rwf35 billion to Rwf205 billion. Loans to clients rose from Rwf19 billion in 2019 to Rwf103 billion in 2023, while client deposits grew from Rwf21 billion to Rwf140 billion over the same period.
In March 2023, NCBA Group's Chief Financial Officer, David Abwoga, noted that their fastest-growing bank is in Rwanda, with assets increasing by 56%.
Higiro played a crucial role in this growth by focusing on technological advancement and establishing effective operational frameworks that enhanced employee productivity.
Her leadership also emphasized employee satisfaction, including providing maternal and partenal leave and creating a supportive work environment for mothers.
NCBA was the first bank to introduce a daycare and a mother's room for breastfeeding, allowing mothers to work comfortably.
Similarly, fathers were granted 14 days of paternity leave, instead of the seven days mandated by law, which many employees say improved their ability to care for their families and increased workplace productivity.
She also launched the 'Man Enough' program, encouraging male employees to advocate for gender equality, making NCBA Bank Rwanda Plc the first to implement this initiative.
Recognizing the importance of mental health for productivity, Higiro initiated a program to support employees' mental well-being, offering free services and access to psychological counsellors as needed.
In March 2023, NCBA Bank was awarded by the Government of Rwanda for its efforts in promoting gender equality and inclusivity among its employees.
In July 2023, Higiro introduced the need for mental health support programs for women in all workplaces to address issues such as gender-based violence and job loss due to pregnancy.
Higiro founded the Women In Finance Rwanda (WIFR) organization and serves as its CEO. The first WIFR agreement was signed in 2023 with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) in the UK, providing scholarships to over 50 women.
WIFR also signed a partnership agreement with the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) in June 2024, aimed at training women in the financial services sector in Rwanda.
Higiro noted that this agreement would benefit over 13,000 women by providing essential knowledge.
In 2021, Higiro was among the top three finalists for the Angaza Award, recognizing women for impactful and skilled leadership in banking and financial services.
With extensive experience in banking operations, Higiro previously served as Chief Operating Officer at AB Bank Rwanda and Head of Planning and Marketing at I&M Bank.
From 2007 to 2011, she served as Head of Banking Services for small and medium enterprises at Guaranty Trust.
Higiro holds a Master's degree in Business Leadership from the University of Liverpool in the UK, a Bachelor's degree from North-West University in South Africa, and a diploma in Business and Communication from Ryerson University in Canada.
IGIHE
