FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has awarded ₦10 million in grants to outstanding women entrepreneurs as part of its commitment to supporting female-led businesses, promoting financial inclusion, and strengthening entrepreneurship across the country.

The grants were presented under the bank’s women-focused empowerment initiative, which seeks to provide financial support and business development opportunities for women-owned enterprises. According to the bank, the programme is designed to help female entrepreneurs expand their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

FirstBank said empowering women-owned businesses remains a key part of its broader strategy to promote inclusive economic development. The bank noted that women play a critical role in driving innovation, supporting local communities, and growing the nation’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.

Beneficiaries were selected through a competitive process that recognised entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, sustainable business models, and strong growth potential. Beyond the financial grants, the initiative also provides access to mentorship, business advisory services, networking opportunities, and capacity-building programmes aimed at improving long-term business performance.

The bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women through specialised financial products, enterprise development programmes, and partnerships that improve access to funding and business resources. It said sustained investment in women entrepreneurs would strengthen the SME ecosystem and contribute to broader economic development.

Industry experts have consistently noted that improving access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges facing women-owned businesses in Nigeria. Initiatives that combine funding with mentorship and business training are increasingly viewed as effective tools for improving business sustainability, encouraging innovation, and increasing employment opportunities.

Stakeholders believe programmes such as FirstBank’s grant initiative will help bridge financing gaps for female entrepreneurs while promoting financial inclusion and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s private sector. They also argue that expanding access to funding for women-led businesses can have a positive impact on household incomes, local economies, and national development.

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The (SEC) has called for stronger participation of women in Nigeria’s capital market, stressing that increased female involvement will help strengthen financial institutions and boost investor confidence.

The call was made during the celebration held at the commission’s headquarters in , where regulators and financial experts highlighted the need for more female leadership and financial inclusion in the investment ecosystem.

Women critical to capital market growth

The Director-General of the SEC, , said women have played significant roles in the development of Nigeria’s financial system and should be given greater opportunities to contribute to the growth of the capital market.

According to him, female professionals have consistently demonstrated resilience, dedication, and leadership across various roles within the commission and the broader financial sector.

Agama noted that women have served as pillars of the Nigerian capital market, helping to strengthen institutional credibility and deepen investor trust.

He also revealed that one of the most influential mentors during his more than two decades at the commission was a woman who helped shape his professional journey.

Recognising female leaders in the SEC

The SEC Director-General highlighted the contributions of several women who have held top leadership positions within the commission, including former Director-General and former Acting Director-General .

He urged organisations and society at large to recognise the critical role women play in shaping institutions and promoting economic development.

Experts urge women to invest more

Also speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of , , encouraged women to strengthen their financial decision-making and actively participate in investment opportunities.

She noted that despite working in financial institutions and related sectors, many women still lack adequate financial empowerment.

According to Alabi, building financial independence requires discipline in saving, investing, and long-term wealth creation.

She also cautioned women against fraudulent investment schemes and urged them to make informed financial decisions.

SEC officials emphasise mentorship and inclusion

In her remarks, the Executive Commissioner for Legal and Enforcement at the SEC, , said women within the commission have continued to demonstrate professionalism, resilience, and integrity in their duties.

Similarly, the Executive Commissioner for Operations, , stressed that women bring unique perspectives and thoughtful analysis to leadership and decision-making processes.

He added that the commission is creating more opportunities to ensure women thrive within the organisation and the broader capital market.

Promoting financial inclusion

Participants at the event emphasised the importance of financial literacy, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for women, noting that increased inclusion would strengthen the Nigerian capital market and support broader economic growth.

The event formed part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration, with stakeholders calling for sustained efforts to empower women within Nigeria’s financial system.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched a nationwide financial inclusion training program aimed at equipping 10 million Nigerians with essential financial literacy, investment knowledge, and digital skills.

The initiative was flagged off by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The program is implemented through the Presidential Committee on Economic & Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), chaired by VP Shettima. Its primary goal is to empower youths and women, ensuring they are prepared to thrive in Nigeria’s rapidly advancing digital economy.

As part of the rollout, the FG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six leading professional bodies: the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI), and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE). These organizations will provide technical expertise, mentorship, and certification pathways to strengthen Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce.

Speaking at the event, VP Shettima emphasized that the initiative is more than a formal agreement. He described it as a strategic national investment in human and institutional capacity, the foundation upon which inclusive economic growth must rest.

He further noted that financial inclusion is not achieved through access alone, but through competence, trust, and ethical capacity. “A one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be built on weak skills or disconnected professional ecosystems,” the Vice President said.

The MoU establishes a framework for joint training programs, policy dialogue, digital skills development, and professional standards, aligning market practices with national inclusion goals.

VP Shettima highlighted the importance of financial literacy among accountants, credit administrators, bankers, risk professionals, and innovators, stressing that without such skills, inclusion remains merely a slogan.

The training program prioritizes women and youth, ensuring Nigeria’s demographic dividend translates into economic growth. VP Shettima said the collaboration ensures young people are equipped with the skills and ethical grounding required for a fast-evolving digital economy.

The President of ICAN, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, commended the FG for its bold economic reforms and pledged the professional body’s full support for the success of the initiative. Technical partners, including WAWU Africa, confirmed their readiness to deliver the digital platform and infrastructure necessary for effective nationwide training.

Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, stated that exclusion is not only due to lack of access but also limited skills, weak institutional capacity, and insufficient professional support.

Financial inclusion is fully realized when people and institutions are equipped to use financial infrastructure responsibly and productively.

The flag-off event marked the formal start of the program, which will train 10 million Nigerians across the country, with special focus on empowering women and youth to participate actively in Nigeria’s growing economy.

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By Ameh Gabriel

Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy will remain elusive unless women and vulnerable groups are fully included in the country’s growth agenda, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has warned.

Delivering the keynote address at the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2025 (GS-25) in Abuja, the minister said closing gender gaps was no longer a matter of advocacy but of national survival.

The summit, organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in partnership with Plan International, was held under the theme: “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating an Inclusive Society.”

According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, women make up more than half of Nigeria’s population and own about 43% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), yet only 9% of them have access to formal credit.

She stressed that the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership, the high number of out-of-school girls in rural areas, and weak social protection systems continue to hold back national development.

“Inclusion is not an abstract theory; it is the difference between hunger and hope, between survival and dignity. We are at a defining moment in our national journey,” she said.

The minister highlighted ongoing initiatives under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions – 774 (RH-SII774), introduced earlier this year by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These interventions target women’s participation in agriculture, access to clean cooking solutions, financial empowerment, skills acquisition, and family-strengthening programmes under the Families First Initiative.

She also revealed plans to establish a National Care Economy Framework, designed to unlock the productive potential of millions of women and caregivers across the country.

On political participation, Sulaiman-Ibrahim reiterated her support for the Special Seats Bill for Women, arguing that women’s representation in governance directly influences national priorities.“When women sit at the decision-making table, budget allocations shift toward education, health, and social protection. Societies become more prosperous,” she said.

In his remarks, Mr Udeme Ufot, Chairman of the Policy Innovation Centre, described the summit as a marketplace of ideas where research translates into policy action. Similarly, Mr Niyi Yusuf, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, emphasized that inclusion is not just about fairness but about “economic survival and national stability.”

Meanwhile, in Ibadan, entrepreneur and health advocate Dr. Temitope Farombi, founder of the Brain Health Initiative Nigeria (BHIN), called for the urgent implementation of the long-promised 35% affirmative action for women.

Farombi, a neurologist and Ph.D. holder in Global Health, urged the government to align with the Maputo Protocol by appointing at least 35% women into public offices.

She recalled that during last year’s International Women’s Day, the Senate pledged to ensure 35% representation of women in parliament, stressing that the time for promises had passed and action was now required.

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A new empowerment programme aimed at equipping young women with practical skills in the construction sector has been launched by the Ogun State Government in collaboration with Lafarge.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, disclosed that applications are now open for the 2025 Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training Programme, which will officially commence in September at the Women Development Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta. The intensive programme will run for eight weeks.

Adeleye described the initiative as a bold step toward breaking gender barriers in non-traditional trades. She explained that beyond offering hands-on training, the scheme also seeks to connect participants to employment opportunities and foster stronger collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within the construction sector.

The training, which is completely free, is open to female applicants aged 18 to 30, who are residents of Ogun State and possess at least an SSCE qualification. Applications will be accepted from 27 August to 8 September 2025, after which shortlisted candidates will be enrolled for the full-time training.

“This programme is not only about skill acquisition; it is about opening doors of opportunity, strengthening women’s economic independence, and shaping a more inclusive future for our state,” Adeleye said. She added that the government remains grateful to Lafarge for its role in making the project a reality.

The Commissioner urged young women to take advantage of the opportunity while calling on community leaders, civil society groups, and stakeholders to help spread awareness. According to her, the Ministry will intensify campaigns to mobilize qualified applicants across Ogun State.

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