Azeezah Muse-Sadiq is a partner in the law firm of Banwo & Ighodalo. She co-leads the Firm’s Corporate, Securities and Finance Practice. Her core practice area includes Capital Markets, Competition Law, Islamic Finance, Taxation, Corporate Restructuring, Mergers & Acquisitions. She is often invited to facilitate trainings and has co-authored articles.
Our diversity policy demonstrates our un-biased commitment to gender equality. The Firm is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to recognising, recruiting, rewarding and retaining the most talented people regardless of race, gender, disability, or social class. Of the eighty (80) lawyers at the Firm, forty-five (45) are female, and of the twelve (12) Partners at the Firm, six (6) are women. Notwithstanding the admission of three new partners (one female and two males) effective May 1, 2021, the leadership structure of the firm still assures that the female gender is ably represented. In this regard, the Chief Operating Officer of the Firm and the Head of Human Resources are females.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which led employees at many firms to begin to work from home, the Firm was already an industry pioneer in encouraging flexible working hours and adopting a work from home policy for nursing mothers. The foregoing, we believe, is an accurate reflection of the Firm’s unparalleled commitment to ensuring that women receive the requisite support to build rewarding and exceptional legal careers at the Firm.
The Firm celebrates the International Women’s Day with activities geared at promoting and show casing the female talents in the firm. In addition, there is a B&I Ladies Club, comprising female mentors from Partnership and senior associate levels that mentor, coach and provide support to female employees within the firm.
The Firm provides equal access to opportunities, resources and information to all employees regardless of gender whilst promotion within the Firm is strictly based on merit and performance.
To ensure a more inclusive environment for our women, we ensure the following:
- Continuous monitoring and evaluation of gender equality in the workplace.
- Promote policies on equal treatment.
- No discrimination in conditions of employment, work distribution and benefits.
- Transparent recruitment practices
- Inclusion in key leadership positions in the Firm.
- Supporting women with family-friendly workplace practices such as reduction in work hours after maternity leave, flexible work arrangements, etc.
- A women-focused employee group to empower our women to reach the highest rank of their career.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC’s Offer for Subscription of 9 billion Ordinary Shares of 50 kobo each at N44.50 per share;
Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc’s issuance of up to N46,000,000,000 (Forty-Six Billion Naira) Series 2 Bonds under the existing N200,000,000,000 (Two Hundred Billion Naira) Bond Issuance Programme
Fidelity Bank PLC’s Capital Raise amounting to N127.1 billion through a Public Offer of 10 billion Ordinary Shares of 50 kobo each at N9.75 per share and a Rights Issue of 3.2 billion Ordinary Shares of 50 kobo each at N9.25 per share;
Zenith Bank PLC’s capital raise of up to N300 billion Naira through a rights issue of up to 5,232,748,964 ordinary shares of 50kobo each at N36.00 per share and offer for subscription of up to 2,767,251,036 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N36.50 per share;
Nigerian Breweries Plc. in connection with its acquisition of Distell International Holdings 80% shareholding in Distell Wines and Spirits Nigeria Limited as well as 100% acquisition of the import business of Heineken Beverages Holdings Limited;
FBN Holdings Plc’s capital raise of N150,000,000,000 by way of Rights Issue through the allotment of 5,982,548,799 Ordinary shares of 50 kobo each;
- Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in connection with the merger of its downstream oil & gas companies, NNPC Retail Limited, OVH Energy Marketing Limited and Nueoil Energy Limited.
- Capital markets: Debt
- Capital markets: Equity
- Corporate restructuring
- Islamic finance
- M&A
- Competition
- Tax
- Banking
- Financial services
- Food and beverage
- Government and public policy
- Insurance
- Pharmaceutical
- Agriculture
- Nigerian Bar Association
- Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria
- Chartered Institute of Investments and Securities UK
- (LL.B) University of Lagos (1998- 2004)
- (B.L) Nigerian Law School (2004-2005)
- PG Dip in EU Competition Law (in view)