In a bold move to empower women entrepreneurs and champion inclusive finance, the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has officially launched its Growth Accelerator Programme in Lagos, Nigeria, in collaboration with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and FSDH Merchant Bank.

The initiative, part of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme, aims to build creditworthiness and expand access to funding for female-led businesses across Nigeria. The launch event marked a significant step in unlocking financial inclusion and enhancing the capacity of women in entrepreneurship.

According to Dr. Irene Ochem, Founder and CEO of AWIEF, “This programme is about creating meaningful economic empowerment for women by addressing the core challenge of access to finance. We are proud to be making this impact in partnership with AGF and FSDH.”

Meanwhile, AWIEF has also announced the opening of nominations for its highly anticipated 2025 AWIEF Awards, which recognise trailblazing women entrepreneurs across the continent. The Awards Ceremony will take place on 31 October 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, during the annual AWIEF Conference.