Apply: Access bank opens applications for N17.5m grant for female entrepreneurs

Access Bank is now inviting applications from Nigerian women entrepreneurs for the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton program, which offers a grant of N17.5 million. This initiative aims to support and empower female business owners across the country.

The application is open from June 24, 2024, to August 9, 2024, to Nigerian women aged 18 to 55 who have owned at least 50% of their businesses for a minimum of one year.

The Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton program, now in its sixth year, is a comprehensive business growth initiative designed for female entrepreneurs.

This year’s program includes an eight-week mini-MBA training course in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Over the course of three months, participants will attend pitching sessions to present their businesses to a distinguished Pan-African jury. The finalists will integrate the knowledge gained from the mini-MBA training into their pitches, competing for financial grants and other prizes.

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Abiodun Olubitan, Group Head of Women’s Banking at Access Bank, highlighted the importance of this program, noting that a survey revealed the primary reason for the failure of female-owned startups within the first five years was a knowledge gap. The Womenpreneur Program seeks to bridge this gap by providing essential resources to help these businesses thrive.

Olubitan emphasized that the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton is one of Africa’s largest business growth platforms for women, offering quality training and grants to selected winners. She noted, “The main objective is to equip women with the knowledge to grow their businesses.”

“Over the past five years, the program has supported 645 mini-MBA winners from six Nigerian geopolitical zones and 10 other African countries. 65 grant winners and 40 consolation prize winners from 2019 to 2023. The programme has exposed participating businesses to new international markets and provided valuable skills in business marketing, management, and digital proficiency, contributing to significant business growth.”

Interested persons can apply here