Nigeria’s women-focused fintech, Shecluded, has been announced as the implementing partner for WE-Elevate, a flagship programme designed to accelerate digital inclusion for female-led businesses.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) and supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and its innovation arm, ONDI, is being rolled out nationwide with Shecluded at the helm.
Building on its track record of empowering over 40,000 women entrepreneurs with capital, capacity, and community, Shecluded will now bring tailored digital training and support to 500 Nigerian women-led MSMEs across sectors such as retail, agriculture, fashion, and beauty. The programme equips participants with digital, financial, and entrepreneurial skills, while providing mentorship and access to global e-commerce platforms.
Founder, Shecluded, Ifeoma Uddoh said, “we are committed to ensuring Nigerian women entrepreneurs don’t just participate in the digital economy, but thrive within it. Through WE-Elevate, we will provide context-driven training that reflects the lived realities of women in business, helping them transition from offline operations to globally scalable, digital-first enterprises.”
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, commended Shecluded’s role, noting that women-led MSMEs remain critical to Nigeria’s economic growth. “WE-Elevate empowers female entrepreneurs with the tools to grow and compete in the digital economy. We commend DCO, NITDA, ONDI, and Shecluded for enabling platforms that will help African nations rise together as leaders in the digital age,” he said.
DCO Secretary-General, Deemah AlYahya added, “WE-Elevate transcends beyond women building businesses; it is about nations building a new social contract for the digital age. From Lagos to Lahore, we have seen how one woman gaining digital access can transform a family, a community, and ultimately, a nation.”
With MSMEs contributing nearly half of Nigeria’s GDP, Shecluded’s leadership in this rollout directly supports the country’s pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly advancing gender equality and decent work. Applications are now open for eligible entrepreneurs across all DCO Member States at bit.ly/WE-ElevateNigeria.
