During a high-level Executive Masterclass in Abuja, the Bank of Industry (BOI) reaffirmed its dedication to bridging the financial and structural gaps facing women in business. Representing Managing Director Olasupo Olusi, Ogo Ifeoma Akabuogu detailed a strategic initiative designed to bolster market access, digital integration, and credit availability for female entrepreneurs throughout the ECOWAS sub-region.
The Masterclass, held under the theme “Advancing Women Partnership in Global Trade and Export Market,” served as a cornerstone of the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament. Olusi emphasized that supporting women in vital economic sectors is not merely a social obligation but a fundamental requirement for achieving long-term economic stability in West Africa. He encouraged attendees to pursue larger scales of operation, urging them to “aim higher” following the training.
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the paradox of women traders: while they are the backbone of regional commerce, they are often the most hindered. Ibrahima pointed out that cross-border female traders frequently grapple with:
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Inadequate infrastructure.
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Prohibitively high costs of regulatory compliance.
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Insufficient policy safeguards and limited funding.
She called for a shift in perspective, where women move from being “passive beneficiaries” to becoming the primary “architects” of the region’s economic evolution.
Echoing this sentiment, trade specialist Ngozi Egbuna noted that while women are the dominant force in informal cross-border trade and agriculture, they are frequently shut out of formal policy-making and export frameworks. Egbuna argued that financial inclusion must be viewed as a calculated economic strategy rather than a charitable act. She advocated for systemic reforms, such as gender-sensitive border protocols, digitalized customs, and specialized export credit systems, to ensure women-owned businesses can compete on a global stage.
