In a significant stride for women’s participation in technology and entrepreneurship across Nigeria, the sixth cohort of the Women in Tech Nigeria Accelerator has successfully graduated, spotlighting the continued drive to unlock opportunities for female founders in the digital economy. This milestone event marks a new chapter for the female-led startups that have emerged from a rigorous and impactful programme delivered through a strategic partnership between the Standard Chartered Foundation, Village Capital, and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos.
From a competitive pool of applicants drawn from diverse sectors, twelve promising ventures were selected to join this latest cohort. Over several months, these founders underwent comprehensive business training, one-on-one mentorship sessions with industry leaders, and strategic networking opportunities designed to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and scale their solutions to wider markets.
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Emerging Innovators Across Key Sectors
The graduating group represents an exciting mix of enterprises tackling challenges in critical areas of Nigeria’s economy. Founders in agritech, healthtech, edtech, fintech, and cleantech brought forward innovations that speak to real needs—from reducing food waste in agricultural supply chains to enhancing access to essential services through digital platforms.
Among those who completed the accelerator were Chinwendu Augustina of Bridge Merchant Enterprise and Blessing Aniefiok of Dynalimb Technologies. Others included Sarah Andino of Talktu by Mikagi Technologies, Deborah Kemi Olakunle from HealthVest, and Esther Eruchie leading FriendnPal. Each founder’s project illustrated not only technological ingenuity but also a deep connection to community needs and economic empowerment.
After the intensive training and pitch sessions, five founders were selected for equity-free funding of $10,000 each. These support awards will give them a crucial boost to grow their operations and bring their ideas to fuller fruition. The recipients included Chinwendu Nweke (Bridge Merchant Enterprise), whose work connects agricultural networks to reduce post-harvest losses; Omolara Olarerin of PocketFood, making strides in food delivery and access; and Blessing Aniefiok, whose assistive tech solutions aim to improve mobility for people with disabilities. Other winners were Omobosola Karimat Alaka (Hafrikplay), focusing on digital entertainment and education, and Olapeju Nwanganga (Ploutos Page Limited), helping market women digitise their businesses.
Voices of Support and Commitment
At the graduation event, leaders from the partnering organisations spoke passionately about the accelerator’s impact on Nigeria’s entrepreneurship landscape. Joke Adu, Country Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, highlighted the bank’s satisfaction in empowering women entrepreneurs to build businesses that are both sustainable and socio-economically transformative. She emphasised the initiative’s capacity to not only support individual founders but also contribute to wider job creation and long-term economic growth.
Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, described the alumni as living proof of what can happen when talent meets opportunity. She underlined the programme’s role in equipping women with the tools and confidence to move from participation to leadership within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. Her remarks reinforced the idea that deliberate investment in women founders yields innovations with far-reaching benefits for communities.
A Growing Legacy of Empowerment
Since its launch, the accelerator has steadily built a reputation for discovering and nurturing female-led businesses. Prior to this latest cohort, the programme had trained over 50 founders and supported 25 winners through previous editions, collectively awarding more than $250,000 in seed funding to help ventures scale.
Rooted in the belief that gender inclusion drives economic growth, the initiative brings together key players in finance, education, and entrepreneurship to deliver a platform that goes beyond funding alone. It blends capital with expert guidance, peer networks, and tailored business support that create fertile ground for female founders to succeed.
As Nigeria continues to build out its digital economy, programmes like the Women in Tech Nigeria Accelerator are vital mechanisms for closing gender gaps and elevating innovative solutions. For the graduates of the sixth cohort, the future looks bright—with stronger networks, enhanced skills, and new opportunities to make a lasting impact on the tech landscape.
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