Union Bank of Nigeria’s women-focused proposition, alpher, has empowered 98 female entrepreneurs with business skills, mentorship and funding opportunities through the Fearless Female Founders (FFF) 2.0 Accelerator Programme.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with Zuri Circle Network (ZCN), was designed to address some of the challenges facing women-led businesses, particularly limited access to capital, business knowledge, mentorship and networks required for sustainable growth.
The programme attracted 2,810 applications from women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, with 98 founders selected following a rigorous screening process that included business verification and compliance checks.
The selected entrepreneurs represented various sectors of the Nigerian economy, including agriculture, fashion, food production, technology, manufacturing, retail and professional services.
Throughout the accelerator, participants received practical business development support focused on strengthening business operations, improving financial management, increasing competitiveness and preparing their enterprises for expansion and investment.
The selection process assessed key areas including business registration, operational viability and financial record keeping to identify businesses with strong growth potential and investment readiness.
As part of the initiative, five women-led businesses that emerged as winners during the programme’s final pitch presentation received grants from Union Bank to support the growth of their enterprises.
Speaking on the partnership, Head of Retail Banking at Union Bank of Nigeria, Vivian Imoh-Itah, said the initiative reflected the bank’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for women to achieve personal, professional and financial success.
“Through alpher, Union Bank remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women to thrive personally, professionally, and financially. Our partnership with Zuri Circle Network on the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator reflects our deliberate focus on supporting women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, knowledge, and financial access they require to build sustainable businesses,” she said.
Imoh-Itah added that supporting women-owned enterprises would have broader economic benefits through job creation, increased business activity and improved financial inclusion.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of persistent challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing formal financing and opportunities to scale their businesses.
Through the partnership, alpher and Zuri Circle Network sought to bridge this gap by connecting women-led businesses with funding opportunities, capacity building, mentorship and networks to strengthen their investment readiness and long-term sustainability.
Union Bank said the programme further reinforces its commitment to women’s economic empowerment through financial solutions, strategic partnerships, capacity-building initiatives and improved access to financial services.
Through alpher and programmes such as the Fearless Female Founders Accelerator, the bank continues to support women at different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys while contributing to greater financial inclusion and the growth of women-led businesses in Nigeria.