Union Bank’s alpher Empowers 98 Women Entrepreneurs With Skills, Others

From business ideas to growth opportunities: 98 Nigerian women entrepreneurs are getting a stronger shot at building sustainable businesses through Union Bank’s alpher initiative.

For 98 women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, a business idea is becoming a stronger opportunity for growth after Union Bank’s alpher partnered with Zuri Circle Network (ZCN) to provide skills, mentorship and funding through the Fearless Female Founders (FFF) 2.0 Accelerator Programme.

LAGOS, Nigeria — For 98 women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, a business idea is becoming a stronger opportunity for growth after Union Bank’s alpher partnered with Zuri Circle Network (ZCN) to provide skills, mentorship and funding through the Fearless Female Founders (FFF) 2.0 Accelerator Programme.

The programme was created to help close the gap between women-led businesses and access to capital, business knowledge, mentorship and growth opportunities.

A total of 2,810 applications were received from women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. However, only 98 founders were selected after a rigorous screening process that included business verification and compliance checks.

As part of the initiative, Union Bank also awarded grants to five women-led businesses that emerged as winners during the programme’s final pitch presentation.

How Union Bank’s alpher Supports Women Entrepreneurs

The Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator was designed to identify and support promising women-led businesses.

Participants were taken through structured capacity-building sessions, mentorship and accountability programmes. They were also connected to funding opportunities to help their businesses become more investment-ready.

Before the final selection, applicants underwent detailed checks. These included assessments of business registration, operational viability and financial record keeping.

The process was designed to ensure that selected entrepreneurs had viable businesses with strong potential for sustainable growth.

The final cohort also reflected the wide range of businesses being built by Nigerian women.

They included enterprises in agriculture, fashion, food production, technology, manufacturing, retail and professional services.

Throughout the accelerator, the entrepreneurs received practical business support. They were trained on areas such as financial management, business operations and competitiveness.

The support was also aimed at helping the businesses improve their operations and prepare for expansion.

Union Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Women

Speaking on the partnership, Union Bank of Nigeria’s Head of Retail Banking, Vivian Imoh-Itah, said the bank remained committed to creating opportunities for women to achieve greater personal, professional and financial success.

“Through alpher, Union Bank remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women to thrive personally, professionally, and financially. Our partnership with Zuri Circle Network on the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator reflects our deliberate focus on supporting women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, knowledge, and financial access they require to build sustainable businesses,” Imoh-Itah said.

She added that investing in women-owned businesses could have a wider economic impact.

“By investing in enterprises owned by women, we are not only empowering individual founders but also contributing to economic growth, job creation, and greater financial inclusion across Nigeria,” she said.

Tackling Funding Challenges for Women

The initiative comes against the backdrop of challenges faced by many women entrepreneurs in accessing formal financing and business expansion opportunities.

Despite their growing contribution to economic activity, women-led businesses often require greater access to finance, knowledge, networks and other resources to scale.

Through its partnership with Zuri Circle Network, alpher is seeking to address some of these challenges by connecting women entrepreneurs with business knowledge, mentorship and funding opportunities.

The programme also aims to help participating businesses become more prepared for investment and long-term growth.

alpher’s Focus on Women’s Financial Growth

The partnership further reinforces Union Bank’s commitment to supporting women through financial solutions, strategic partnerships and capacity-building initiatives.

Since its launch, alpher has continued to support women at different stages of their personal and entrepreneurial journeys.

Through programmes such as the Fearless Female Founders Accelerator, Union Bank is positioning women entrepreneurs for greater financial independence while supporting business growth and financial inclusion.

The initiative also highlights the growing importance of targeted support for women-owned businesses as Nigeria seeks to promote entrepreneurship, create jobs and strengthen economic participation.