Women professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners have called for stronger digital and financial infrastructure to enable entrepreneurs to trade seamlessly and expand their businesses across Africa.

They made the call during the launch of the enhanced Ecobank Ellevate Proposition Programme, an initiative of Ecobank designed to provide financial and non-financial support for women-owned and women-focused businesses.

In her keynote address, the Founder of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Adenike Ogunlesi, said digital infrastructure would play a critical role in helping women entrepreneurs scale their businesses, access wider markets and participate more actively in cross-border trade within the continent.

Ogunlesi, who spoke on the theme, ‘Her Voice. Her Power. Her Growth’, argued that technology-driven systems that simplify payments, logistics and access to finance would significantly reduce many of the barriers women face in running and expanding their enterprises.

She added that the enhanced Ecobank Ellevate Proposition Programme would help deepen support for women entrepreneurs by offering improved access to financing.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Strata Projects, Bode Abifarin, encouraged women to have confidence in the value they have built and to be bold in demanding recognition for their work and achievements.

She also urged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Ecobank Ellevate Programme platform to expand their networks and gain access to business support.

Founder of Village Farms Agro Allied, Titilayo Adesoga, stressed that women-owned businesses must prioritise proper documentation, strong governance structures and the use of technology to monitor operations and ensure efficiency.

Head, Premier Banking & Wealth Management, Ecobank Nigeria, Ayo Osolake, said the gathering represented more than the unveiling of an improved proposition, describing it as a reaffirmation of its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and building a more inclusive and resilient economy.