The future of women-led enterprises in Nigeria took centre stage on
November 21, 2025, as the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), with support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Sterling One Foundation, convened investors, ecosystem leaders, and high-potential women entrepreneurs for the Women Investment Readiness Accelerator (WIRA) Demo Day in Ilupeju, Lagos.
The event underscored DBN’s central role in strengthening Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem,
particularly for women founders who remain critical drivers of economic growth.
The Demo Day marked the culmination of an intensive accelerator cycle funded and championed by DBN, featuring capacity-building, mentorship, and hands-on business development support for women entrepreneurs across agriculture, food processing, waste management, retail,
technology, fashion, and other impact-driven sectors.
A highlight of the day was the pitch showcase, where entrepreneurs presented their refined, scalable business models to investors, financial institutions, and business support organisations.
For many, this moment represented a direct pathway to funding, partnerships, and expansion, opportunities made possible through DBN’s sustained investment in building a stronger, more equitable entrepreneurial landscape.
The WIRA program was launched to address systemic challenges that continue to limit the growth of women-owned enterprises in Nigeria, including restricted access to finance, limited structured mentorship, and insufficient market entry support.
Through WIRA, DBN, and the Sterling One Foundation are directly tackling these barriers by ensuring women entrepreneurs gain the resources, capacity, and visibility they need to thrive.
Speaking during the Demo Day, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director/CEO of
Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, emphasised the importance of sustained investment in women-led enterprises: “What we witnessed here today confirms that investing in women entrepreneurs yields measurable economic and social impact.
Their businesses are innovative, resilient, and positioned for scale. At DBN, we remain committed to ensuring that women-led MSMEs have access not just to financing, but to the knowledge, networks, and market opportunities that enable sustainability and growth. This Demo Day is a clear step
forward in strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape.”
Also speaking at the event, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, highlighted the significance of creating platforms that elevate women’s business leadership and visibility: “The women we celebrated today are solutions-builders. They are tackling real challenges with creativity and determination. But potential alone is not enough; support, connections, and capital are essential.
Through WIRA, our goal has been to close the financing and opportunity gap by providing more than training — we provided guidance, confidence, andaccess. Today’s pitches are proof of what happens when women are empowered to take up space and lead boldly.”
Investor partners and business support organisations acknowledged the quality and viability of the enterprises showcased, with several founders advancing to follow-up funding and advisory discussions.
The WIRA program remains aligned with broader national and global goals to accelerate gender-inclusive development. With women owning nearly 60% of Nigeria’s SMEs yet receiving disproportionately lower access to capital, DBN’s sustained investment in programs like WIRA demonstrates its commitment to unlocking the full economic potential of women entrepreneurs and advancing inclusive growth across Nigeria.
About the Sterling One Foundation
Sterling One Foundation (SOF) is a registered non-profit focused on tackling the root causes of poverty in Nigeria and Africa through interventions and social impact programmes across three critical sectors, namely: health, education and climate action & food security.
Gender Equality and women’s empowerment are integrated as a cross-cutting priority across all our programming areas. The Foundation’s programmes adopt a central theme of prioritising partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For more information, visit onefoundation.ng
About the Development Bank of Nigeria
Development Bank of Nigeria was set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in
collaboration with global development partners to address the major financing challenges facing Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
Its objective is to alleviate financing constraints faced by MSMEs and small Corporates in Nigeria through the provision of financing and partial credit guarantees to eligible financial intermediaries on a market-conforming and fully financially sustainable basis. For more information visit: https://www.devbankng.com/
