In a testament to its ongoing dedication to women and the Medium, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprise (MSME) sector in Nigeria, AXA Mansard, a global leader in insurance and asset management, has provided support to three female-owned MSMEs with business grants totaling 1.4 million naira to enhance their operations.
These three businesses emerged successful at the International Women’s Day Pitch Competition, organized in collaboration with SME 100 Africa in Lagos.
Olusesan Ogunyooye, Head of Marketing at AXA Mansard, highlighted the significance of the business pitch competition in supporting female entrepreneurs in Nigeria, emphasizing AXA’s commitment to women’s causes and stimulating the MSME sector.
The competition received numerous entries from women across diverse sectors, with shortlisted participants chosen to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions in areas such as food, tech, fashion, and fragrance.
Ogunyooye underscored the importance of investing in women, aligning with AXA’s purpose of acting for human progress. He emphasized that empowering women in MSMEs not only strengthens the socio-economic fabric but also contributes to job creation and wealth distribution.
He expressed AXA’s commitment to doing more for Nigerian women and MSMEs, recognizing them as vital contributors to economic growth.
The winners of the competition, Lawon Ajoke, Founder of Calcium Hub, Ngozi Ada Onyekwelu, Founder of Ibbie Gold Smart Cards, and Taiwo Esther, Founder of Damseth Enterprise, were awarded grants ranging from one million naira to two hundred thousand naira.
AXA Mansard, a leading financial services provider, focuses on insurance, asset management, health insurance, and pension fund administration. Their innovative solutions aim to meet the evolving needs of clients, facilitating progress in their daily lives.
