In commemorating International Women’s Day and Month in March, international advocacy organization, Gatefield, convened a timely and insightful conversation on the financial barriers limiting Nigerian women entrepreneurs and the urgent role of the media in addressing them *Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi* writes
Held as a virtual media dialogue, the “Women’s Economic Empowerment Media Conversation” brought together experts, advocates, and entrepreneurs to shine a spotlight on the systemic gaps that keep women from accessing the capital they need to grow and thrive in business.
Gatefield noted that the event aimed to translate data into dialogue and dialogue into action. Moderated by communications and policy experts, the webinar featured contributions from Chief Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche and development consultant Fifehan Osikanlu.
It also included firsthand accounts from two women entrepreneurs, Chichi Arinze, Co-founder of Autogirl, and Uzoamaka Igweike, Founder of Loom Chocolates, who candidly shared the challenges they face navigating Nigeria’s funding ecosystem.
One of the most revealing contributions came from Nsidibe-Abasi “Joy” Una, who presented findings from a large-scale Gates Foundation survey involving over 100,000 Nigerian women. The results exposed a persistent funding gap that stands as a formidable obstacle to the economic aspirations of Nigerian women. Also, all the speakers highlighted on the importance of acknowledging women’s high loan repayment rates (95%) and their significant contribution to Nigeria’s economy (50%)
According to the data, 62% of respondents cited lack of access to capital as the single greatest barrier to business growth. These women are active in diverse sectors including agriculture, fashion, food processing, and tech, but continue to struggle against outdated financial structures, restrictive collateral demands, and gendered exclusions in access to funding.
“Women are ready to build, to lead, and to contribute economically, but they’re being held back by structures that don’t work for them,” said Shirley Ewang, who presented voices of surveyed women during the event. She emphasized that the consequences of this exclusion are not only economic but social, impacting families, communities, and the nation’s broader development. “These are women with ideas and drive. They want to work, they want to grow, but they’re blocked at the starting line.”
Beyond statistics, the media conversation brought powerful personal testimonies to the fore. For Chichi Arinze, who runs Autogirl, a car maintenance service targeting women drivers, securing venture capital remains elusive despite the business turning profits. “Being in a male-dominated industry doesn’t help,” she said. “Investors question your seriousness, even when the numbers speak for themselves.”
Similarly, Uzo Igweike of Loom Chocolates emphasized that knowledge of funding options, good record-keeping, and structured financial practices are essential, but so is systemic change. “When you hear that collateral is a requirement and you don’t own land, it becomes a non-starter,” she said, pointing out that women are often less likely to hold assets in their name due to cultural and legal constraints.
The dialogue also examined successful funding models that could be scaled locally. Chief Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche highlighted schemes such as the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and initiatives like the Dangote and BOI funds.
“Micro-lending works when you trust women and support them with education and flexibility, while advocating for increased integration of financial literacy into empowerment programs. “Nigerian women have a 95% loan repayment rate. That’s higher than most benchmarks globally.” she said,
On the media front, Osikanlu and Igbinedion-Ogwuche stressed the power of storytelling in reshaping narratives and pushing policy change. “It’s not enough to just report the facts. We must humanize the data,” Osikanlu said. “When you hear from a woman who can’t access credit to expand her cassava processing business despite having market demand, it puts a face to the statistics.”
Both speakers urged journalists to use data-driven storytelling to influence financial institutions and policy actors. They argued that showing the direct link between investing in women and national economic growth could create a compelling case for reform. “This is not a favor to women—it’s an investment in Nigeria’s economic future,” Igbinedion-Ogwuche added.
The webinar concluded with a call to action. Participants were encouraged to continue the conversation through one-on-one interviews, collaborative storytelling for sustained advocacy. The Journalist were charged as change and advocates agents to tell more impactful stories and lobby for policies that address funding disparities.
As the conversation continues, Gatefield remains committed to driving action through data, dialogue, and the amplification of women’s voices in business.
The Women’s Economic Empowerment Media Conversation may have been a one-day event, but the issues it spotlighted require continuous attention and policy intervention. Only then can Nigerian women truly be empowered to realize their economic potential.
