Woven Impact Network Celebrates 19 Women Entrepreneurs

…awards ₦1.5m in business grants

Woven Impact Network has celebrated the graduation of 19 women entrepreneurs from the second cohort of its Women WIN Business Excellence (WWBE) Programme, with five outstanding participants and other awardees receiving grants totalling ₦1.5 million. The cohort comprised 25 women selected from more than 150 applications.

The event brought together programme participants, government development stakeholders, board members and other invited guests to celebrate the women’s achievements and highlight the role of entrepreneurship in advancing women’s economic empowerment and community development.

Selected from more than 150 applications across 10 Nigerian states across 4 Geo-political zones, the cohort represented diverse sectors, including food and agriculture, manufacturing and fashion.

Over three months, participants engaged in a structured business learning and development programme designed to strengthen their business knowledge, improve decision-making and position their enterprises for sustainable growth.

The five grant recipients will use the funding to support the development and expansion of their businesses.

Delivering the keynote address, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr. Mariam Temitope Masha, encouraged the women to recognise the broader significance of their work and the impact their businesses can have on their communities.

“You represent Nigeria. It’s not just about you as an individual woman, but the faces and stories behind the impact and the lives you’re touching. You’re growing a community, you’re growing a state, you’re growing the country, and you’re all winners,” she said.

She urged the entrepreneurs to remain visible, actively pursue opportunities and take advantage of relevant programmes and support systems.

She also encouraged them to view the completion of the programme as a starting point for applying their knowledge, building relationships and pursuing new opportunities for growth.

Speaking on the vision behind WWBE, Olasubomi Sofowora, Founder of Woven Impact Network, said: “WWBE is not simply about teaching women how to run businesses. It is about creating pathways for women to build with greater confidence, make informed decisions, access opportunities and recognise themselves as contributors to economic and community development. Our goal is to support women to build businesses that are resilient, sustainable and capable of creating lasting economic and social value.”

Chair of the Board of Woven Impact Network, Hakeem Subair, was joined by fellow Board members Ms. Olufolake Ilori and Mr. Dipo Sofowora at the event.

In his remarks, he congratulated the women on completing the programme and commended the organisation’s vision and work in supporting women