Tosin Eniolorunda, group chief executive of Moniepoint Inc., is intensifying efforts to reposition financial inclusion beyond access to capital, with a renewed focus on enterprise capability and financial literacy among women entrepreneurs.
In partnership with ALX, Moniepoint convened a four-hour virtual entrepreneurship masterclass that brought together 100 female business owners in a structured programme aimed at transitioning participants from informal trading to scalable enterprise development.
The initiative reflects a growing shift within Nigeria’s fintech and development ecosystem, where operators are increasingly targeting productivity, business sustainability, and financial decision-making as critical levers for inclusive growth.
Unlike traditional training sessions, the masterclass adopted a hands-on, execution-driven format built around three core modules; The Model, The Money, and The Plan, each designed to address structural gaps that limit the growth trajectory of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those led by women.
Participants were guided through the development of lean business models, including customer segmentation, problem definition, value proposition, and distribution channels. The programme also incorporated practical financial tools, with attendees using pricing and profit calculators to determine break-even points and identify profitability drivers.
By the end of the session, participants had developed a one-page Lean Canvas and a 30-60-90 day execution roadmap, complete with weekly action points and measurable key performance indicators (KPIs), alongside a resource pack to support post-session implementation.
Speaking during the session, Iwalola Sobowale, director of customer experience and market research at Moniepoint, highlighted the role of integrated financial tools in scaling small businesses. She demonstrated how the company’s product suite, spanning payments, business banking, and operational management, can improve efficiency and decision-making, with particular emphasis on its Moniebook platform.
The programme builds on Eniolorunda’s long-standing advocacy for a more rigorous approach to financial inclusion. At the 2024 International Financial Inclusion Conference convened by the Central Bank of Nigeria, he argued that inclusion must be anchored in measurable economic activity rather than treated as a policy checkbox.
“We’re at a point where technology can significantly accelerate business growth, but access alone isn’t enough. What matters is giving entrepreneurs the knowledge and confidence to use these tools effectively,” Eniolorunda said.
This perspective aligns with research indicating that women-led businesses often demonstrate stronger repayment discipline and higher engagement with financial services when equipped with the right capabilities. Market data suggests that closing the knowledge gap could unlock significant productivity gains across Nigeria’s SME sector.
The collaboration with ALX also reflects an emerging convergence between fintech platforms and skills development institutions, as both sectors respond to the need for practical, market-relevant training that translates into business outcomes.
Beyond the immediate programme, the initiative ties into global development priorities, particularly United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, which emphasises women’s full participation in economic life and access to financial resources and education.
It also reinforces Eniolorunda’s track record in promoting financial literacy, including interventions through his foundation targeting female STEM students at Obafemi Awolowo University.
