Ecobank Boosts Lending to Women-led Businesses by 194%

Ecobank announced a remarkable 194% surge in lending to women-led businesses, with plans to extend $780 million in loans by 2025, up from $265 million in 2024. This initiative is part of Ecobank's gender-focused program aimed at accelerating entrepreneurship and fostering local economic growth across Africa.

The report was launched in commemoration of International Women's Day (IWD) 2026, highlighting the vital role of women entrepreneurs in job creation and strengthening local value chains. Despite high levels of entrepreneurship among women in Africa, they face a significant financing gap of $42 billion, which limits their ability to scale and invest.

Ecobank's strategy includes tailored financial products, training, and mentorship to improve access to regional markets. Jeremi Awori, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank, emphasized the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs as key drivers of local economic growth.

The Ellev program, launched in November 2020, has expanded to support 103,000 registered women entrepreneurs across 26 African countries.