The Lagos State Government has announced plans to equip women entrepreneurs with digital and financial strategies to drive business growth in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2025.
The event, themed “Empowering Women, Elevating Businesses: Digital & Financial Strategies for Growth,” is set to take place on March 12, 2025, at the Women Development Centre, Agege. It will bring together industry experts, business strategists, financial professionals, e-commerce specialists, and cooperative development leaders to provide practical insights on navigating the evolving business landscape.
Speaking on the initiative, Hauwa Adeeyo, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening female-led MSMEs and ensuring financial inclusion. She noted that Lagos, as Africa’s commercial hub, relies heavily on women entrepreneurs to drive economic growth.
“This initiative aims to provide women business owners with access to digital tools, financial education, cooperative business opportunities, and strategies for sustainable expansion, aligning with the IWD 2025 theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion.’ Through this programme, we are not only celebrating women in business but also ensuring they have the financial knowledge, digital tools, and cooperative support needed to scale their ventures. An empowered woman in business strengthens families, communities, and the entire state,” Adeeyo stated.
Participants will engage in hands-on workshops and panel discussions covering key topics such as leveraging e-commerce platforms for business expansion and financial literacy strategies, including securing funding and managing business finances. The initiative will also offer mentorship, funding opportunities, and cooperative business benefits such as bulk purchasing and market expansion support.
Adeeyo highlighted the Lagos State Women Entrepreneurship Fund as a key funding source for female-led businesses, alongside programmes like the Eko MSME Fashion Hub, which provides access to advanced fashion technology for women in the creative industry, and the Market Modernisation Programme, which offers improved infrastructure and digital solutions for market women.
The event is expected to host over 200 women entrepreneurs from diverse industries, alongside key stakeholders from Lagos State’s commerce, trade, and cooperative sectors. Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, financial institutions, fintech companies, and private sector investors will also be present to provide mentorship and funding opportunities.
