The Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA), a non-profit based in Abuja, has launched an ambitious new initiative aimed at empowering small and medium-sized businesses across North Central Nigeria. The program, dubbed WenA SCALE, is a high-impact pitch competition designed to identify, train, and connect promising entrepreneurs with investment opportunities that fuel business growth and regional economic development.
Targeting SMEs in Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger States, the initiative will culminate in a major showcase at the 5th WenA Conference scheduled for July 2025.
According to Ms. Aisha Babangida, Chairperson of WenA, the initiative is not just about pitching for funds—it’s a strategic platform to discover and elevate investment-ready businesses capable of scaling their operations and creating jobs. “WenA SCALE is more than a competition; it’s a pipeline for discovering and supporting investment-ready SMEs that can scale and drive economic growth in Nigeria,” she explained.
The programme invites applications from entrepreneurs looking to expand their ventures. It also seeks support from ecosystem enablers, development institutions, and impact investors, who will join an impressive lineup of existing partners including:
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GIZ
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Bank of Industry (BoI)
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Stanbic IBTC
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Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC)
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Welcome to Africa,
alongside a diverse mix of technical experts, mentors, and angel investors.
As part of the initiative, 150 small business owners will undergo a month-long intensive training program aimed at refining their business models, sharpening their investment readiness, and preparing them for market expansion. After training, participants will compete in state-level pitch events, where the top three businesses from each state will be selected to advance to the regional finals at the July showcase.
WenA SCALE reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by building bridges between small business owners and the resources they need to succeed.
Applications are now open to eligible SMEs with growth ambitions and scalable business models.
