Alitheia Capital is moving to strengthen Nigeria’s women-led businesses by connecting more than 300 high-potential enterprises with investors, lenders, markets and technical expertise as part of efforts to close the capital and capability gaps limiting their growth.
The gender-smart private equity firm said the initiative, which will take place under its W.O.M.A.N. 2026 program in Lagos from 10-11 September, is targeted at businesses operating in manufacturing, agribusiness and nutrition.
Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, Tokunboh Ishmael, said the program was designed to tackle the structural barriers preventing women entrepreneurs from converting existing business potential into sustainable growth.
“The gathering brings an ecosystem closer together to deliver systemic strategies that overcome challenges women face in labour markets and economic empowerment,” Ishmael said.
The participating businesses have been screened based on revenue thresholds, formalization status and demonstrated growth potential, with Alitheia positioning the program as a practical intervention to help women-led enterprises scale and contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s real economy.
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She added that the participating businesses already had revenues, customers and growth ambitions, stressing that access remained the major constraint.
According to Alitheia, the intervention will connect the businesses with investors, capital allocators, market makers and technical specialists, while providing practical support in investment readiness, financial management, governance, capital structuring, energy efficiency and cost reduction.
The program will also expose participating businesses to artificial intelligence through a hands-on adoption bootcamp delivered by Google Hustle Academy, enabling founders to apply digital tools to their operations.
A structured speed consultancy session will further pair entrepreneurs with investors, lenders and advisers for one-on-one engagements aimed at addressing specific business and financing needs.
Alitheia said the program would extend beyond the two-day event, with a cohort of businesses to be onboarded onto its Nzinga platform for 12 months of progress tracking.
The platform will monitor key indicators including capital raised, jobs created and revenue growth, allowing the firm to measure the practical outcomes of its intervention.
The businesses are drawn from three areas considered central to Nigeria’s economic diversification — agribusiness and value-chain operations, food processing and nutrition, and light manufacturing and packaging.
The third edition of W.O.M.A.N. is being supported by FCMB SheVentures, Airtel, StarSight, RenCom, LATC, Bank of Industry, FCDO Manufacturing Africa, Google Hustle Academy, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, SMEDAN and the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment.
