Ife Durosinmi-Etti: Building A New Economy For Women

At the 7th edition of the Lord’s Achievers Award in Lagos, themed “Icons of Impact”, a landmark moment in the celebration of Nigerian excellence unfolded. Ife Durosinmi-Etti, a trailblazing entrepreneur and advocate for women’s economic empowerment, was presented with the inaugural “Lord of the City” Award.

The recognition honoured her groundbreaking contributions, including her historic triumph at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where she won three Silver Lions for a pioneering breastmilk financing campaign.

Ife’s story is one of vision, resilience, and purpose.

As the founder and CEO of Herconomy, Nigeria’s first fintech platform for women, she has built a dynamic ecosystem that provides financial services, professional opportunities, and training to over 100,000 women nationwide. Herconomy is more than a fintech platform; it is a movement. Through grants, scholarships, and online courses spanning entrepreneurship, digital skills, and artificial intelligence, the platform equips women with the tools they need to thrive in a male-dominated economy.

“Women cannot be empowered through bank accounts alone. They need community, capacity, and access to opportunities that can move them, their businesses, or careers to the next level,” Ife explained in 2022. Her vision is clear: a world where women can connect, save, earn, and thrive. Under her leadership, Herconomy has awarded over 100 grants and was selected for the third cohort of Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund in 2023.

Ife’s journey to entrepreneurship was anything but linear. Born to an engineer father and a lawyer mother who devoted herself to nurturing the family, Ife was steeped in the values of education, discipline, and independence from a young age. She entered university at 15, initially studying Chemical Engineering, then switching to Biochemistry, and later earning a Master’s degree in Global Business from Coventry University in 2012. These early academic choices, she says, were less about passion and more about exploration—but they laid the foundation for her adaptability and determination.

Her professional journey began at Standard Chartered Bank as an Operations Analyst, followed by roles with the British Red Cross and Arcadia Group Plc in the UK, where she honed skills in customer relations, sales, and marketing. Returning to Nigeria in 2012, she joined Nigerian Breweries Plc under the Young African Talent program, where she managed corporate social responsibility and sustainability projects. Each experience, she recalls, shaped her understanding of business, leadership, and social impact.

Before Herconomy, Ife co-founded Parliamo Bambini and Philos and Zoe, ventures focused on locally manufactured children’s furniture and clothing that empowered youth and promoted access to quality education.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation recognised Parliamo Bambini as a transformative idea for Africa.

Yet it is Herconomy that has become her defining legacy. Initially launched in 2018 as AGS Tribe, a networking community for young female professionals, it has evolved into a platform that merges financial empowerment with professional development. Its academy offers online courses, mentorship programs, and community engagement that directly address the economic gender gap. “The underlying issue is access to funding, information, and mindset,” she says. “We are providing just that.”

Ife’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Women’s Advocacy Award from the West African Leadership Organisation, recognition as a Mandela Washington Fellow, and selection as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. She is a volunteer with the Global Shapers Community, project lead for Startup Dome, and author of Accessing Grants for Startups: A Guide for African Entrepreneurs.

Her advocacy extends beyond entrepreneurship. During Lagos’ Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Ife delivered a powerful message about financial independence.

Through the #HerMoneyHerPower campaign, she emphasised money stops nonsense,” highlighting how financial control is crucial for women to escape abusive situations and secure their futures. Her words resonate as a call to action: women must claim their financial agency to thrive, both personally and professionally.

From a young girl navigating parental expectations to a globally recognised entrepreneur reshaping the landscape of women’s empowerment in Nigeria, Ife Durosinmi-Etti embodies the essence of leadership, innovation, and social impact. Her story is not just one of personal triumph—it is a blueprint for a new economy, where women lead, connect, and prosper.