The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has announced the provision of 50 free exhibition booths for women-owned businesses as part of activities to commemorate
International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening women’s participation in Nigeria’s business landscape and expanding opportunities for female entrepreneurs. The initiative forms part of the Chamber’s broader commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment and promoting inclusive growth across the country.

Through the programme, women-led small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) will be given a platform to showcase their products and services, connect with potential customers and investors, and build stronger professional networks within Nigeria’s growing enterprise ecosystem.

President of ACCI, Emeka Obegolu, said the 2026 celebration, themed “Give To Gain,” underscores the importance of deliberate investment in women through improved access to finance, mentorship, market opportunities and supportive policies. According to him, empowering women entrepreneurs has far-reaching benefits that extend beyond individual businesses to families, communities and the broader national economy.

“Empowering women in business strengthens enterprises, stabilises families and ultimately drives national prosperity,” he said, noting that although women play a significant role in Nigeria’s economic landscape and dominate a large segment of the informal sector, many still face structural barriers that limit their ability to scale their businesses.

Obegolu identified limited access to affordable financing, regulatory bottlenecks and socio-cultural constraints as some of the factors restricting women’s participation in economic decision-making and leadership within the business environment.

To address some of these challenges, ACCI will host a two-day Women Entrepreneurs Workshop and SME Exhibition scheduled for March 9 and March 10, 2026, where beneficiaries will receive free exhibition spaces to showcase their businesses. The programme will bring together women entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders and business development experts to discuss strategies for strengthening women-led enterprises.

Beyond the exhibition, the event will feature a women’s empowerment workshop, panel discussions on sustainable financing and protection from predatory lending, as well as a social media marketing masterclass aimed at equipping participants with practical digital tools for expanding their businesses in an increasingly technology-driven marketplace.

Vice President of ACCI for Women and Gender Matters, Lawunmi Ismail, said the initiative was intentionally designed to deepen women’s participation in enterprise development and economic growth. She stressed that women’s economic empowerment goes beyond inclusion and directly influences broader development outcomes.

“When women succeed in business, families prosper, communities grow stronger and the overall economy benefits,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of ACCI, Agabaidu Jideani, emphasised that sustainable economic growth can only be achieved when women are intentionally supported and positioned at the forefront of enterprise development. He described the free exhibition booths as a practical demonstration of the Chamber’s commitment to promoting women-led businesses and called on stakeholders across both the public and private sectors to collaborate in removing barriers limiting women’s advancement.

The Chamber noted that the IWD 2026 activities form part of its wider agenda of promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening women-led enterprises and expanding inclusive opportunities within Nigeria’s commerce and industry ecosystem.