Federal Government And Access Bank Demand Sweeping Policy Reforms To Unlock Economic Potential For Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs

Federal Government and Access Bank push for policy reforms to support women’s economic inclusion. Discover how capital access can boost Nigeria's GDP and growth.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 8:50 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Sun Nigeria

The Economic Necessity Of Gender Inclusive Financial Reform

The Nigerian federal government, in collaboration with Access Bank, has identified the removal of structural barriers as a critical prerequisite for national economic stability and growth. During the 2026 International Women’s Day conference, Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa argued that empowerment without capital is merely a form of deprivation. Despite women owning nearly half of the nation's small and medium enterprises, a massive financial gap persists that prevents these businesses from scaling. Musawa emphasized that including women in high-level decision-making processes is not a matter of gender equity alone but a strategic economic imperative, as diverse leadership leads to more resilient and productive outcomes for the entire country.

Bridging The Gap Between Informal Trade And Sustainable Business

A major focus of the current policy push is transitioning women-led enterprises from informal, low-productivity activities into sustainable, structured businesses. Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili pointed out that equal access to inputs in sectors like agriculture could boost total output by as much as 30 percent. She warned that the continent cannot achieve significant progress if its most active entrepreneurs remain trapped in low-productivity ventures due to a lack of technology and market access. To combat this, the federal government is reportedly developing targeted funding mechanisms specifically for the creative and cultural sectors, aiming to provide the necessary institutional support that has historically been missing for female business owners.

Institutional Investment Versus Passive Support

Access Bank Board Chairman Ifeyinwa Osime reframed the lack of female economic inclusion as a form of "economic inefficiency," asserting that no nation can optimize its GDP while underinvesting in half of its population. She noted that while small and medium enterprises contribute approximately 48 percent to Nigeria's GDP, the critical bottleneck remains access to knowledge and platforms that enable scale. Osime called for a shift in corporate and government philosophy, moving away from temporary support toward intentional, measurable, and scalable investment. This structured approach is intended to create long-term economic value by treating women-own...