Pan-Atlantic programme graduates 11 women tech founders

Eleven women founders have graduated from the most recent cohort of the Women in Tech Incubator and Accelerator Programme, a Pan-Atlantic University initiative supported by the Standard Chartered Foundation and Village Capital. The programme, which has been active since 2019, has backed 60 women, helping them develop technology or tech-enabled businesses in sectors such as education, healthcare, fashion, wellness, and supply chain management.

Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, highlighted the programme's evolution in response to changes in the economy and technology sector. The latest cohort received specialized advisory services, capacity building, mentoring, and coaching to strengthen their businesses. Okekearu emphasized the importance of governance and financial structures, stating that establishing boards helped the businesses refine their models and become more attractive to investors.

The programme offers seed grants and access to single-digit loan pools, targeting businesses that are at least 51% women-owned, technology-enabled, and beyond the ideation stage. The latest cohort's businesses are developing solutions to personal or community problems. For instance, one founder is building a platform for children with learning disabilities, and another created a platform after observing her mother's success in daily sales without access to funding due to lack of documentation.

Standard Chartered Nigeria's Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Joke Adu, reiterated the bank's commitment to expanding economic opportunities for women through entrepreneurship. She praised the programme for combining training and business advisory support, with selected participants receiving seed funding to scale their businesses.

Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, Oreoluwa Leshi, spoke at the graduation ceremony, emphasizing the importance of increasing women's participation in technology for Nigeria's development. She noted that women currently account for only about 20% of Nigeria's technology workforce and called for more programmes providing women-led businesses with access to mentorship, funding, and business support.

Graduate and CEO of Check It Limited, Fara Popoola, shared how the programme helped her narrow her business focus and define her target market. The grant she received will enable her company to deploy field agents and expand its reach among businesses in the informal sector.