Komolafe: Investment solutions should be tailored to women's risk appetite

Onome Komolafe, the division head of The Business Services and Client Experience at Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), emphasizes the importance of customizing financial products to meet the unique investment needs of women. In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa on the occasion of International Women's Day, Komolafe sheds light on the innate risk-averse nature of women and the necessity of developing low-risk, structured financial products that can foster greater female participation in the investment arena. Komolafe stresses the significance of accelerated action in creating a conducive ecosystem that enables women to realize their full potential in driving economic growth and impacting their families positively. She lauds CSCS for its efforts in empowering women within the organization and implementing affirmative action measures to facilitate the advancement of women in both internal structures and wider ecosystems. Discussing the future plans of CSCS, Komolafe underlines the need to expand access to tailored financial solutions that align with the specific investment requirements of women. Recognizing that women are generally risk-averse, she emphasizes the importance of adjusting risk levels in investment products to attract female investors. Komolafe highlights the importance of financial education for women, especially those who are unbanked, as a means to integrate them into the banking system and encourage savings and investments. Moreover, she points out the existing disparity between women's savings and investments, emphasizing the urgency to accelerate actions that will drive increased investment participation among women. Komolafe calls for the development of specialized financial products that cater to the distinctive needs and risk preferences of women, thereby fostering a more inclusive and gender-responsive investment landscape. In conclusion, Onome Komolafe's insights underscore the critical role of tailored financial solutions in empowering women to actively engage in the investment space, bridging the existing gender gap and paving the way for a more inclusive and diversified financial ecosystem.