Onome Amuge
Access Bank has launched the seventh season of its flagship Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton programme, deepening efforts to strengthen financial inclusion and entrepreneurial opportunities for women across Africa at a time when gender-focused financing remains limited on the continent.
The initiative, first rolled out in Nigeria in 2019, combines access to finance with business training and certification. It has since grown into a pan-African platform, with beneficiaries from multiple markets where the Lagos-based lender operates. The programme provides participants with tailored coaching, grants, and a mini-MBA certification developed in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Iheme Chizoba, group head of Product and Segment at Access Bank, framed the scheme as both a strategic investment and a social responsibility. “Investing in women’s growth means investing in the future of our communities. When we empower women, we empower nations,” she said.
This year’s edition will select 120 entrepreneurs for training, according to project manager Oyeyipo Ifeoluwa. The curriculum will culminate in a pitch contest, with 10 finalists sharing N17.5 million ($12,000) in grants. To qualify, applicants must be female founders aged 18 to 55, running registered businesses that have operated for at least a year.
Since its inception, the Pitch-A-Ton has trained nearly 900 women and disbursed more than $175,000 in seed funding. Alongside the financial awards, Access Bank says it continues to monitor participants for at least six months after completion to ensure business sustainability.
For Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, group head of the W-Initiative under which the programme is run, the IFC-certified mini-MBA is one of the scheme’s most valuable features. “The qualification is a significant asset that adds substantial value to participants,” she said, noting that the training is sector-agnostic and designed to support entrepreneurs ranging from agribusiness owners to tech start-ups.
The expansion of Pitch-A-Ton comes against the backdrop of a wider debate about gender inequality in African finance. A report by the African Development Bank has estimated that women face a $42 billion financing gap on the continent, with access to credit, training and networks identified as persistent barriers. Commercial lenders, often perceived as reluctant to lend to small and medium-sized enterprises, have been under pressure to adapt their offerings to serve more inclusive markets.
Access Bank’s initiative reflects a growing trend among African financial institutions to align commercial goals with social impact. Since merging with Diamond Bank in 2019, the group has positioned itself not only as Nigeria’s largest bank by assets but also as a regional player with operations in more than a dozen African countries. Gender-focused programming allows the bank to differentiate its brand while tapping into a vast underserved demographic.
The timing of the new season is also notable. With women making up an estimated 58 per cent of Africa’s self-employed population, according to the World Bank, analysts say that tailored initiatives could play a significant role in driving post-pandemic recovery and economic resilience.
Applications for the 2025 programme opened on September 16 and will close on October 3. Kunle-Ogunlusi encouraged entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity, adding: “There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain when you take a chance.”
