Sterling Bank Strengthens Support for Women Entrepreneurs with OneWoman Financing Dialogue in Lagos

Story: written by springnewsng April 15,2026
Sterling Bank has reinforced its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs through its flagship OneWoman initiative, hosting the “Funding Her Future Breakfast Dialogue” in Lagos.
The high-level gathering brought together women entrepreneurs, development finance institutions, ecosystem leaders, and key business stakeholders to explore practical solutions for expanding access to finance for women-led businesses across Nigeria.
Beyond funding, discussions at the event focused on building sustainable systems to support female entrepreneurs. Stakeholders emphasized the need for a holistic approach that combines access to capital with business readiness, mentorship, strong networks, and institutional partnerships.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director and CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, said the initiative is aimed at driving real impact.
“Today is about going further. It is about turning shared belief into shared action,” he noted.
In remarks delivered by Chief Growth Officer, Edward Ogunmekan, Suleiman described the dialogue as a convergence of finance, enterprise, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth. He stressed the need for scalable and commercially viable financing solutions tailored to women-led businesses.
According to him, the OneWoman initiative is built on three pillars—capital, capacity, and community—designed to provide comprehensive support for women at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
Also speaking, Ezinne Nwokafor, Head of the OneWoman Initiative, highlighted the urgency of closing Nigeria’s gender financing gap. She revealed that women entrepreneurs face an estimated $42 billion annual financing shortfall, despite their significant contributions to the economy.
Nwokafor disclosed that in 2025 alone, the initiative disbursed ₦43.9 billion in loans to 2,450 women, trained over 6,000 entrepreneurs, and impacted about 380,000 women. She added that the programme aims to provide ₦500 billion in funding to one million women by 2030.
Similarly, Divisional Head of Commercial Banking, Akporee Idenedo, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to strengthening capacity-building efforts, noting that skills development remains key to building resilient women-led enterprises.
The dialogue featured panel sessions with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and funding partners, offering insights into financing opportunities and strategies for sustainable business growth.
The event forms part of Sterling Bank’s broader strategy to deepen financial inclusion and drive economic growth by supporting women through targeted funding, enterprise development, and community-driven initiatives.
About Sterling Bank:
Sterling Bank Limited is a full-service national commercial bank in Nigeria and a member of Sterling Financial Holdings Group. With over six decades of operations, the bank continues to deliver innovative financial solutions across retail, commercial, and corporate segments, guided by its HEART strategy focused on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.