Women entrepreneurs across various sectors in Nigeria are advocating for specific support to overcome structural barriers and significantly contribute to the country's economic growth. Despite constituting a substantial proportion of the country's entrepreneurial and agricultural workforce, many women struggle with access to affordable finance, modern technology, infrastructure, training, markets, and other essential resources.
Women make up about 43% of entrepreneurs in Nigeria, while they account for an estimated 70 to 80% of the agricultural labor force, particularly as smallholder farmers and processors. To increase their contributions to the economy, women entrepreneurs are seeking easier access to low-cost finance, dedicated grants and funding schemes, gender-friendly policies, practical training, improved infrastructure, processing facilities, mentorship, and greater participation in policy formulation.
Adeola Balogun, Founder and COO of LimLim Foods Production Company Limited, emphasizes the need for a verification system for female-led businesses to access progressive financing facilities. She suggests a model that allows women-led ventures to gradually build cash collateral, which can be invested in bonds and used as collateral. Balogun stresses that access to low-cost, single-digit funding is crucial for women entrepreneurs, particularly in the agro-processing space.
Chi Tola Roberts, an Agribusiness Expert, notes that despite repeated calls for special attention to women entrepreneurs, there has been insufficient evidence of meaningful change. She attributes this to social norms and structural factors that disproportionately affect women's businesses. Roberts urges the government to review the ease of doing business from a gender perspective and provide women entrepreneurs with adequate training, funding, grants, export assistance, and monitoring and evaluation support.
Roberts also highlights the importance of addressing the needs of women smallholder farmers, particularly through improved access to training, modern farming methods, and agricultural services. She stresses that many rural women still depend on conventional farming practices due to a lack of adequate training and access to information on improved methods. Additionally, Roberts advocates for the creation of agro-processing hubs that are accessible and affordable for women farmers.
Aolat Idowu-Agbelekale, CEO of Arcom Treasures, emphasizes that women's contributions to the economy warrant greater attention to their access to finance, markets, and favorable policies. She advocates for grants, zero-interest loans, equipment financing, affordable access to farmland, and agricultural inputs. Idowu-Agbelekale also suggests clustering as a way to reduce production costs and improve the utilization of agricultural waste.
Abimbola Francis, an Agribusiness Expert, calls on governments to establish processing hubs for women farmers within their communities, where they can bring their produce for processing, adding value locally. She also advocates for machinery and implements to reduce the physical burden of farming on women and support irrigation systems to ensure food security.
Key points
- Women entrepreneurs in Nigeria require targeted financial support, gender-responsive policies, and an enabling business environment to overcome structural barriers and contribute significantly to the country's economic growth.
- The government is urged to review the ease of doing business from a gender perspective and provide women entrepreneurs with adequate training, funding, and support.
- Women smallholder farmers need improved access to training, modern farming methods, and agricultural services to increase their productivity and contributions to the economy.
