Nigeria’s leading digital bank, Wema Bank, has again shown its strong support for women entrepreneurs by partnering with the SheCan Conference for the fifth year in a row. The bank has announced that it will give a ₦2 million grant to support women-led businesses during the upcoming SheCan 6.0 Conference. The event is expected to hold on Thursday, July 18, 2025, at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s SheCan Conference is themed “SheCan Do More” and is expected to bring together over 7,000 women from different parts of Nigeria. The aim is to inspire, educate, and empower women to reach higher in business, leadership, and personal development.
Wema Bank, through its women-focused platform SARA by Wema, said it is using this initiative to support women-led small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) with funding that will help them expand their businesses and improve their operations. The bank described this as a major step in promoting inclusive economic growth and supporting women who are contributing to Nigeria’s development through entrepreneurship.
Ayodele Olojede, the Head of Retail and SME Banking at Wema Bank, explained that the bank is not just sponsoring the SheCan event but is also investing directly in Nigerian women. She said, “Wema Bank is committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by giving them financial support, tools, mentorship, and the right environment to thrive. Every year, we see how access to funding and support changes the lives of these women, their families, and their communities. We believe women have the power to lead the Nigerian economy.”
She added that the bank’s SARA platform was designed to give women access to financial services, business development tools, and community support. According to her, the ₦2 million grant will be given to selected winners who meet the application requirements.
To qualify for the grant, applicants must be women-led businesses that already have active Wema Bank accounts and must be registered members of the SARA by Wema Community. Interested women entrepreneurs are expected to submit a short business pitch, not more than two pages, which explains their business idea, the founder’s story, the problem their business is solving, their customer base, how they plan to use the grant, and the impact it will make in their communities.
They are also expected to include their Wema Bank account details, full name, and the email address they used to register for the SARA platform. The entries will be screened by a selection panel made up of professionals and business experts, and winners will be announced at the event.
Wema Bank noted that its continued partnership with SheCan is part of a broader strategy to support Nigerian women in business, especially at a time when the country needs more locally driven solutions to grow the economy and reduce unemployment.
In previous editions of the SheCan Conference, Wema Bank has supported women with trainings, mentorship, and exposure to investment opportunities. The event usually features inspirational talks, panel sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities for attendees.
With Nigeria’s female entrepreneurship rate ranked among the highest in Africa, experts say efforts like this from Wema Bank can help reduce the funding gap many women face and encourage more women to step into leadership and innovation roles.
The bank has also called on other financial institutions and corporate organizations to invest in Nigerian women, noting that when women are empowered, the entire society benefits.
The SheCan 6.0 event is expected to draw top female business leaders, mentors, policymakers, and creatives. It also presents an opportunity for Wema Bank to showcase the impact of SARA by Wema, its initiative to support and grow a strong network of empowered Nigerian women.
