United Bank for Africa (UBA) is placing women-led enterprises at the centre of Africa’s economic growth strategy as a new generation of female entrepreneurs, also known as Gen W, seek to redefine leadership, build scalable businesses, and overcome long-standing barriers to finance and influence.
At a forum in Lagos, the bank brought together female founders, media entrepreneurs, and executives to discuss how women across industries are expanding their presence in leadership and innovation while creating ventures that combine commercial success with social impact.
The event, part of activities marking International Women’s Day, highlighted what speakers described as the rise of the “evolved woman”: a generation of entrepreneurs who are creating businesses, platforms and professional networks that challenge traditional assumptions about women’s roles in African economies.
The hybrid gathering at the bank’s headquarters brought together entrepreneurs and professionals from across sectors to explore how women are navigating growth, leadership and funding challenges in an evolving economic landscape.
Michelle Nwoga, group head of customer experience at UBA, said the concept reflects a growing wave of women stepping forward to lead and shape conversations in both business and society.
“The evolved woman represents a generation that is increasingly confident in its voice and its role in leadership,” she said, noting that women entrepreneurs are becoming key drivers of innovation across multiple industries.
The discussion was moderated by Nigerian media personality and actor Tobi Bakre, who described the idea of evolution as an ongoing process of growth and self-awareness rather than a fixed milestone.
“When I think about the evolved woman, I do not see a checklist or finish point. It is someone grounded in her self-worth who also creates room for others to grow,” he said.
Among the speakers were Joycee Awosika, founder of the ORÍKÌ Group; Tomike Adeoye, a media personality and digital entrepreneur; Olufunke Davies; and broadcaster Ayo Mario-Ese.
The entrepreneurs spoke about the realities of building businesses in competitive markets, including funding constraints, market access challenges and the need for resilience.
Awosika said women founders must evolve alongside their companies as they scale operations and expand leadership responsibilities.
“That woman does not need to ask to sit at the table; she is creating her own table and adding value. As your company grows, you must grow too,” she said.
Adeoye argued that debates about what women contribute to the business landscape are increasingly outdated as more women launch companies, build digital platforms and shape consumer markets.
“The evolved woman is more vocal about her struggles, sets her own standards and refuses to give up on her dreams,” she noted.
Mario-Ese said one challenge many female founders face is the reluctance to publicly showcase their achievements, even when their work has a measurable impact.
“A lot of women are doing phenomenal work but are sometimes afraid to showcase it,” she said, adding that collaboration and confidence remain essential to long-term success.
Davies highlighted persistence as a defining trait of entrepreneurship, noting that many successful founders discover their most viable business opportunities only after experimenting with several ventures.
“It is important to research and streamline, but the key thing is to start from where you are,” she said.
Banks and development institutions have increasingly sought to support women-led enterprises as evidence grows that female entrepreneurship contributes significantly to job creation and inclusive economic growth.
Alero Ladipo, group head of brand, marketing and corporate communications at UBA, said the bank’s Gen W platform aims to connect women entrepreneurs with mentorship, professional insights and business resources.
The initiative also provides networking opportunities and access to selected financial products designed to help women scale their businesses.
It also involves redefining leadership models, creating new networks of support and demonstrating that successful enterprises can be built while expanding opportunities for others.
As more women enter entrepreneurship and leadership roles across Africa, speakers at the Lagos forum argued that the real transformation lies not only in increasing representation but in reshaping the structures that determine who gets to build, lead and innovate in the continent’s economies.
