A Grassroots Bet on Women’s Enterprise Gains Scale Across Six Nigerian States

Mary Nnah

In Nigeria, economic life begins in open markets, roadside kiosks and small workshops where millions of women run businesses that rarely appear in formal statistics but sustain households and local commerce. The scale of that activity is difficult to overstate. Estimates from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and development institutions place the informal economy at well over half of national output, with some studies suggesting it contributes between 50 and 65 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs the vast majority of the workforce. 

Notably, women dominate this space. More than 80 percent of working women in Nigeria are engaged in informal economic activity, often in trade, agriculture and small-scale processing, yet remain structurally excluded from formal finance and business systems. 

It is within this context that the Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has launched “Empower Her,” a financial literacy and micro-enterprise support programme now rolled out across Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Nearly 2,000 women have participated in its first phase which wrapped earlier in April 2026. Participants received training designed to move their businesses from instinct-driven operations to more structured, financially resilient models.   
The gap the programme seeks to address is well documented. Around 41 per cent of Nigerian women remain financially excluded, compared with 33 percent of men, and roughly 20 million women do not use any formal financial service at all. 

Even among those who are financially active, many rely on informal savings groups or thrift collectors rather than regulated institutions, limiting their ability to access credit or build financial histories.
This exclusion has implications beyond individual livelihoods. Economists have long argued that improving women’s access to finance has a multiplier effect, raising household incomes, improving education outcomes and strengthening local economies. In Nigeria, where small businesses serve as a primary buffer against unemployment, the stakes are particularly high.

Airtel’s intervention reflects a broader shift in how corporate actors and policymakers are approaching financial inclusion.

For years, the emphasis was on expanding access to bank accounts. Today, the focus has widened to include capability: how individuals understand money, manage risk and adopt digital tools that can improve efficiency and scale.

At the opening sessions of the “Empower Her” programme in Lagos, participants were trained in budgeting, savings discipline and responsible borrowing, alongside practical exposure to digital wallets and agent banking platforms.  In an economy where inflation has eroded purchasing power and disrupted supply chains, the ability to track costs, manage cash flow and reduce leakage can determine whether a micro-business survives.

Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, framed the initiative in economic terms. “This programme is beyond charity; it is strategy,” he said, pointing to the multiplier effect that comes when women are able to manage and grow their income streams. 

Aligning with Ogunsanya, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, described the project as a reflection of the company’s long-term belief that women at the grassroots are essential drivers of local economies.
“Women in the informal sector carry a significant share of Nigeria’s economic activity,” he said. “When they gain access to the right skills and simple financial tools, the results are immediate: stronger families, stronger communities and more resilient small businesses.”

That view is echoed by development economists who argue that improving women’s financial capabilities has a direct impact on household welfare, education outcomes and local economic stability. In Nigeria, where small businesses are particularly vulnerable to shocks ranging from inflation to supply disruptions, better financial management can determine whether a venture survives.

Multi Stakeholder Collaboration

The programme appears to have also been designed for a multi-stakeholder execution. Nationwide execution involved a collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Smartcash Payment Service Bank.

SMEDAN’s contribution focused on practical business guidance tailored to specific sectors, while Smartcash introduced participants to low-cost digital financial tools, including Point-of-Sale devices and transaction incentives. 

Charles Odii, Director-General of SMEDAN, linked the initiative to broader national priorities. Strengthening micro-enterprises, he noted, is central to reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunity. The training modules therefore extend beyond finance into operational improvements, including record-keeping for traders and productivity techniques for women in agriculture. 

Corporate Nigeria has begun to respond, often in partnership with government agencies and development organisations. Telecommunications companies, in particular, have taken a more active role as the convergence between connectivity and financial services deepens. With mobile penetration expanding rapidly and digital payments gaining traction, telcos are positioning themselves as gateways to financial inclusion.

Airtel’s collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Smartcash Payment Service Bank reflects this convergence. SMEDAN provides sector-specific business training, while Smartcash introduces participants to low-cost digital financial tools, including Point-of-Sale devices and transaction incentives aimed at reducing the cost of doing business. 
Similar efforts are visible across the industry. Competitors such as MTN Nigeria have expanded mobile money operations through MoMo Payment Service Bank, while non-profit organisations and development finance institutions continue to fund women-focused enterprise programmes.
Government-backed initiatives such as the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and digital skills schemes under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) framework, which both Airtel and MTN sponsor, also signal a policy alignment around inclusion and small business growth.

A Paradigm Shift

What distinguishes the current wave of interventions is the emphasis on integration. Training is combined with access to tools, and in some cases, capital. Under the “Empower Her” programme, selected participants receive micro-grants and equipment support, bridging the gap between knowledge and application. 

The design acknowledges a central challenge in development practice: financial literacy alone does not transform businesses unless it is accompanied by access to usable financial products. Conversely, access without understanding often leads to misuse or underutilisation. Bringing the two together increases the likelihood of sustained impact.

There are early indications of behavioural change. Testimonials from participants highlight improved record-keeping, clearer business planning and a greater willingness to engage with formal financial services. For traders and small-scale producers accustomed to operating informally, these shifts represent a transition toward greater stability and growth potential. 

Yet the structural barriers remain significant. Women in Nigeria continue to face constraints in asset ownership, access to collateral and formal employment opportunities.
In agriculture, where they form a large share of the workforce, access to resources such as land and credit remains disproportionately low.  These constraints limit the speed at which informal enterprises can scale, even when capability improves.

The question, then, is whether programmes like “Empower Her” can achieve impact at a level that meaningfully shifts economic outcomes. Scale will be critical. Nigeria’s informal sector employs tens of millions, and interventions that reach a few thousand participants, while valuable, represent only a fraction of the need.

New Direction for Inclusion

Still, the direction of travel is clear. Financial inclusion in Nigeria is moving beyond access toward capability, and from isolated interventions toward coordinated ecosystems involving corporates, government agencies and financial institutions. Women, long recognised as central to informal economic activity, are increasingly at the centre of that strategy.

As Airtel’s programme continues its rollout, its significance lies less in its immediate numbers than in what it represents: a recognition that strengthening Nigeria’s economy requires investing in the systems that underpin its most ubiquitous businesses.

Those systems begin not in formal offices, but in the everyday enterprises run by women across the country.