The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and with support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has launched the Women Investment Readiness Accelerator (WIRA) programme to strengthen women-led businesses and enhance their access to funding, mentorship, and growth opportunities.
The initiative is part of DBN’s broader mission to drive inclusive growth and economic empowerment for women across Nigeria. WIRA aims to equip women entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and investment readiness they need to scale their businesses and compete effectively in today’s fast-changing business landscape.
Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of DBN said empowering women entrepreneurs is both a moral imperative and an economic strategy. He noted that with AFD’s support, the programme would offer mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to capital that can help women-owned enterprises grow, expand, and deliver lasting economic impact.
The CEO of Sterling One Foundation highlighted the significant barriers women entrepreneurs continue to face across Africa. Despite owning nearly 60% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), they receive less than 10% of total investment and just about 5% of venture capital when led by female CEOs, contributing to a $42 billion annual financing gap. WIRA, she said, is designed to close this gap by equipping women with the tools, networks, and confidence needed to thrive and succeed on larger platforms.
The programme is expected to have far-reaching benefits for Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem, where women-led enterprises play a crucial role in job creation, innovation, and community development. By improving their investment readiness and expanding access to finance, WIRA aims to strengthen the competitiveness of women-owned businesses, enabling them to scale sustainably and contribute more significantly to national growth.
Through initiatives like WIRA, DBN, Sterling One Foundation, and AFD are reaffirming their commitment to building an inclusive economy where women entrepreneurs are empowered to drive innovation, create jobs, and shape the future of Nigeria’s business landscape.
