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Nigerian women are entrepreneurial people. Current estimates indicate that they own between 39% and 41% of businesses in the country. That’s much higher than the sub-Saharan African average of 29% and the global figure of 33%. However, they face significant challenges in their pursuit of business success. There’s a great need for programs that empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

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A number of initiatives in this category already exist. It’s likely that if more women entrepreneurs in Nigeria were aware of them, they would access the support that’s available from such sources. If you’re a female business owner and you’re looking for organizations that can provide you with the resources you need to achieve your aims, you’ll find this article useful. In it, we’ll introduce you to 10 programs of this kind.

WISE-P

The Women in Self-Employment Program (WISE-P) is a government initiative executed via SMEDAN. It provides women entrepreneurs with business training, financial assistance, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to markets. It’s open to persons who want to start a business or expand an existing one.

Nigeria for Women Project

This is a collaborative project involving the World Bank and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and implemented through the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs. The program operates with a series of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) situated in states across the country. These groups serve as channels through which trainings in financial management are facilitated.

SheTrades Initiative

SheTrades is an initiative of the International Trade Center (ITC), aimed at expanding opportunities for women in global trade. It offers courses in entrepreneurship, trade, finance, business management, and marketing, among others. It also connects women with financiers and investors, and organizes workshops and webinars delivered by industry experts.

African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative

Every year, AWEC organizes a 12-month leadership and business management capacity-building program for 200 women entrepreneurs. Most of it is delivered virtually, and requires a time commitment of 4-6 hours each week. Enrollees are also mentored by experienced business professionals and encouraged to network with peers from all over Africa.

HerVenture

A creation of the Cherie Blair Foundation, HerVenture is a digital learning platform that provides female entrepreneurs with essential business training. Because it’s available on a mobile app, users can access it quite easily, and at their convenience. The app generates learning journeys that are tailored to the specific needs of each user, and presents content in short, easy-to-understand formats.

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Road to Growth

Another initiative of the Cherie Blair Foundation, Road to Growth supports women entrepreneurs with business skills and financial literacy training, primers in market analysis, valuable networks, and connections to financial institutions. Thus far, it has served over 5,000 women.

Flourish Africa

A women’s empowerment fund founded by business magnate Folorunsho Alakija. It’s a ₦1.3 billion grant pool designed to fuel female entrepreneurial success. The broader program helps women in business with funding and structured training. Every year, at least 100 women receive grants of up to ₦3 million, and 500 are trained in business and life skills.

MamaMoni

MamaMoni is a FinTech social enterprise that caters to women in underserved communities. It empowers them with digital financial services such as e-payments and loans. MamaMoni runs an agency model that consists exclusively of female agents. Besides its primary preoccupations, it also enables access to essential healthcare interventions and organizes free training in finance, digital skills, and business development.

Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A)

The Tony Elumelu Foundation supplies grant funding to female entrepreneurs who are members of the TEF alumni network. Through this program, women-owned businesses with high growth potential are provided with funding of up to €50,000. Enterprises that qualify for this grant are typically in agriculture, consumer products, education and training, health, and the services sector.

WimBiz Programs

The Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WimBiz) is a non-profit organization that exists to inspire and promote women in leadership. In addition to this, WimBiz works with a broader mandate to help women achieve success in their entrepreneurial pursuits. It does this through masterclasses, individual and corporate mentorship, and building valuable networks.

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Final Words

These are our 10 picks for programs that empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Their solutions and targets vary, and some may be more suitable for your purposes than others. If you’d like to take advantage of them, you can visit their websites to find out more.

Featured Image Source: Business Post Nigeria

Did you find this article useful? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com

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This article was first published on 5th April 2025
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ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.