Women entrepreneurs and professionals have commended Ecobank Nigeria for deepening its support for women-owned businesses following the launch of the Enhanced Ecobank Ellevate Proposition aka Ellevate 2.0 in Lagos.
The upgraded initiative, unveiled at an event themed “Her Voice. Her Power. Her Growth.”, brought together female business leaders and professionals for insightful discussions on leadership, resilience, and growth.
The programme is part of the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen women’s economic participation across Nigeria.
Delivering the keynote address, Founder of Gatimo Limited and Creative Director of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Adenike Ogunlesi, praised the bank for its longstanding commitment to women entrepreneurs. She recalled how Ecobank supported her business with a loan at a critical stage when other institutions declined.
Ogunlesi urged women to embrace self-awareness, resilience, and purpose as key drivers of sustainable success, describing these qualities as essential for navigating business challenges.
The event also featured a panel session with industry leaders including Bode Abifarin, Founder and CEO of Strata Advisory; Titilayo Adesoga, CEO of Village Farms Commerce and Exchange; and Subuola Oyeleye, Founder of Beauty Hut Africa.
The panelists shared personal and professional experiences, highlighting the importance of adaptability, resilience, and strategic thinking in building successful enterprises. They encouraged women to take ownership of their growth journeys, embrace change, and remain confident in the face of challenges.
Speaking at the event, Ayo Osolake, Head of Premier Banking and Wealth Management at Ecobank Nigeria, who represented Managing Director/Regional Executive Bolaji Lawal, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to empowering women.
According to her, the enhanced Ellevate proposition has evolved into a bank-wide offering designed to provide improved access to credit, digital payment solutions, capacity-building programmes, and expanded market opportunities through Ecobank’s Single Market Trade Hub.
Also speaking, Victoria Igun, Ellevate Manager at Ecobank Nigeria, described the initiative as a strategic move to strengthen women’s access to finance, markets, and professional networks.
She noted that the upgraded platform would enable women entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and translate ambition into measurable impact.
Ecobank Nigeria continues to support women-led enterprises through platforms such as Adire Lagos, Oja Oge, +234Art Fair, Lagos Pop-Up Museum, SME Bazaar, and the Design & Build Exhibition, all aimed at providing visibility, market access, and growth opportunities for female entrepreneurs.
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