Nigeria has the world’s highest proportion of female entrepreneurial activity, with 23 million women commanding 41% of the country’s micro businesses.

Yet, despite their resilience and contributions, women-led businesses continue to face systemic challenges from limited access to finance and markets to regulatory barriers and cultural biases.

Today, we took a bold step toward changing that! We kicked off the first of two validation workshops with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, working together to drive a more gender-inclusive National Policy on MSMEs.

This initiative, led by ICR Facility and SMEDAN, is a crucial step in ensuring that women-led businesses in Nigeria have a clear, structured path to growth, sustainability, and economic empowerment. As the gender expert on this project, I am deeply passionate about ensuring that the voices of women entrepreneurs are not only heard but translated into actionable policies that foster real change.

A huge thank you to all our stakeholders who joined us in this critical conversation, including Director Hauwa Usman, Head of Gender at the Ministry of Trade and Investment, who delivered the keynote address, as well as representatives from the Ministries including Women Affairs, Financial Institutions, Business Membership Organizations, and other key ecosystem players. Your insights and collaboration are invaluable in shaping a policy that truly works for women-led businesses.

The work continues, and I am excited about what’s ahead. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive economy—one where women-led businesses are not just recognized but prioritized.