A social impact organisation, Tech Herfrica, has launched a $100,000 RuralMarket Fund aimed at advancing digital and financial inclusion for rural women entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
The initiative was unveiled during the second edition of the PoliServe Dialogue held at Kabusa Market in the Federal Capital Territory. According to Tech Herfrica’s Founder, Imade Bibiwei-Osuobeni, the fund will build on the success of the 2023 pilot programme, which recorded a 100 per cent repayment rate.
She explained that the RuralMarket Fund is a non-interest revolving fund created to support business expansion, improve customer outreach, and strengthen the financial resilience of rural women. “The pilot programme enabled 70 per cent of beneficiaries to grow their businesses and increase revenue,” she said.
Bibiwei-Osuobeni added that the fund reflects Tech Herfrica’s commitment to bridging the gap between policy and practice by ensuring that rural women entrepreneurs are included in Africa’s sustainable development agenda. “The RuralMarket Fund is more than financing; it is a pathway to empowerment. When rural women have access to fair and inclusive funding, they transform their communities and contribute significantly to local economies,” she noted.
The fund will be managed using commercial principles but disbursed without interest. Beneficiaries will be grouped in clusters and provided with financial management training and tailored business support to enhance sustainability.
This year’s PoliServe Dialogue, which coincided with the 2025 International Day of Rural Women, was themed “Smart Business, Sustained Growth.” The event brought together government agencies, private sector players, and civil society organisations to discuss strategies for inclusive economic development.
Panel sessions focused on topics such as financial inclusion, digital tools for business growth, mental health, and navigating new tax laws. Participants included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), FCT-Internal Revenue Service, Guaranty Trust Bank, and other development partners.
Chairman of PoliServe Dialogue 2.0 and Founder of Hope Raisers Global Foundation, Angonimi David-Imeh, called for stronger partnerships to sustain the growth of rural women entrepreneurs. “With the right partnerships and smart financing, rural women can transition from survival to sustainable growth. We’re not just funding businesses; we’re building legacies of resilience,” he said.
The event was supported by several organisations, including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, EFInA, GTBank, and FCT-IRS. Other partners included Hope Raisers Global Foundation, Prince 7 Youth Development Initiative, Rendra Foundation, Holyhill Relief Foundation, Organisation of Women in International Trade, and YALI Network Abuja.
Also present were representatives from Dutch and Doyenne, DeeBlissful Bakes, The Confident Woman, Radiant Futures, The Aziza Development Foundation, McDream Concepts, Faslearn, Orbeets Digi-Tech, Lexicon Media, and Laerryblue Media.
