Stakeholders Push for Financial Access for Women Entrepreneurs

At a forum organized by Women Lead Climate Action (WLCA) in Abuja, stakeholders highlighted the urgent need for improved access to finance for Nigerian female entrepreneurs, particularly in the green economy. Gautier Mignot, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, noted that while women constitute 50-70% of smallholder agricultural labor and represent 70% of Nigeria's informal economy, they remain underrepresented in financial access.

Amanda Archibong Doukour, WLCA founder, pointed out a $320 billion global credit gap for women-led businesses and emphasized the misalignment of capital in Nigeria, where an estimated $2.5 billion in annual climate finance is mobilized, yet actual requirements are much higher. Doukour stressed the importance of designing financial systems that cater to women-led enterprises, which dominate last-mile distribution in agro-processing and clean energy.

Cecilia Akintomi, former Vice President of the African Development Bank, identified barriers such as limited access to education and financial structures that hinder women's participation in larger infrastructure projects.