New research from Mastercard has highlighted the remarkable rise of entrepreneurship among Nigerian women, with 83% of women in the country identifying as entrepreneurs—significantly surpassing the regional average of 51% across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Among these entrepreneurs, millennial women stand out, with 86% considering themselves entrepreneurs, outpacing their male counterparts (79%) in this regard.
The research, titled Empowerment for All, was released ahead of International Women’s Day 2025 and sheds light on the key motivations driving this surge in female entrepreneurship. The study identifies financial independence, personal ambition, and the desire to transform innovative ideas into reality as the key factors fueling this entrepreneurial movement.
For Nigerian women business owners, the sense of purpose is clear: 49% launched their businesses to pursue a personal dream, while 45% were driven by the ambition to bring a brilliant idea to life. This underscores a powerful sense of purpose and determination among female entrepreneurs in Nigeria, further cementing the country’s role as a hub for female-led business innovation.
