The $1 Trillion Strategy: FG Injects Fresh Capital into Women-Led Businesses to Dominate African Trade
ABUJA— The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially placed women entrepreneurs at the strategic center of its aggressive push to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Recognizing that true industrialization cannot happen while sidelining half the population, the government has launched targeted funding and policy frameworks to scale women-led enterprises across the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
During a high-level colloquium in Abuja on Friday, March 6, 2026, marking International Women’s Day under the theme “Give to Gain”, senior policymakers unveiled their roadmap to transition female entrepreneurs from informal traders into continental corporate heavyweights.
“We must remove the barriers that limit women’s participation in trade and enterprise,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim declared. “Empowering women economically is not only a matter of fairness but also a strategic investment in Nigeria’s prosperity.” By formalizing these businesses and aggressively funding their expansion, the Federal Government expects women-led enterprises to lead the charge in tripling Nigeria’s non-oil exports by the end of the decade.
The Historic MoU: Closing the $49 Billion Gap
Data presented at the summit revealed a startling reality: women-owned businesses across Africa currently face a massive financing deficit estimated at over $49 billion. To combat this bottleneck locally, the Federal Government executed an unprecedented inter-ministerial partnership.
The Agreement: The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, alongside the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The Goal: The MoU establishes a unified framework to accelerate access to low-cost financing for female-led, medium-sized businesses. It also guarantees export-readiness training, advanced digital trade capacity building, and the creation of a national database to instantly connect women-owned enterprises with global investors.
“This conversation is fundamentally about capital and opportunity,” Dr. Oduwole stated emphatically. “When women-led enterprises have access to finance, markets, and the right institutional support, they become powerful engines of industrial growth, job creation, and trade expansion.”
The ₦10 Billion BOI “GLOW” Fund
Backing the policy with immediate capital, the Federal Government has officially opened applications for the Guaranteed Loans for Women (GLOW) Fund, a ₦10 billion financing vehicle managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI).
The GLOW Fund provides a vital lifeline for businesses stifled by traditional banking constraints. Successful beneficiaries will enjoy: Simplified Access to Credit: Bypassing the notoriously rigid commercial loan structures. Reduced Collateral Requirements: Lowering the barrier to entry for women who often lack physical land or asset titles. Strategic Mentorship: Direct inclusion into the BOI’s national women-in-business network for capacity development.
Conquering the AfCFTA Market
The ultimate goal of this financial injection is borderless trade. The AfCFTA links over 1.3 billion people, creating a combined market valued above $3 trillion. However, Nigeria’s leadership within this framework depends entirely on producing and exporting at scale.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted that while women account for over 70% of Nigeria’s agricultural labor force, they own less than 14% of the land and access less than 10% of formal credit.
“We must remove the barriers that limit women’s participation in trade and enterprise,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim declared. “Empowering women economically is not only a matter of fairness but also a strategic investment in Nigeria’s prosperity.”
By formalizing these businesses and aggressively funding their expansion, the Federal Government expects women-led enterprises to lead the charge in tripling Nigeria’s non-oil exports by the end of the decade.