Stakeholders at the 2025 Abuja Business and Investment Expo have called for a more supportive environment for women entrepreneurs, emphasising improved access to finance, technology, and policy support to drive inclusive economic growth.
The call came at the close of the second edition of the international expo, which was held at the President Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. It was convened by the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL). The three-day event attracted over 1,000 high-level participants from 40 countries, including investors, policymakers, diplomats, financiers, and industry leaders.
Participants stressed that investing in women should not be viewed as philanthropy but as a strategic approach to accelerating Africa’s growth and development.
Delivering the keynote address, former Vice President of Zimbabwe, Dr Joice Mujuru, celebrated the progress of women’s empowerment across the continent, citing examples of female leadership in Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Represented by the director of Communications, Sheroes Foundation, Katherine Duncan-Odukoya, Mujuru urged governments and private sector stakeholders to sustain investment in initiatives that promote women’s participation in business and governance.
“Women need to be told they are free,” she said. “Freedom is not only about making policies. It’s about perception — realisation comes after empowerment, education, and legislation. We must awaken women to know they are free to lead, innovate, and define their destiny.”
At a plenary session titled “Educating Women: Future Skills Development for a Competitive Society,” panellists, including the Vice President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Princess Layo Okeowo; Justice Aishatu Mohammed of the Borno State High Court; Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Prof. Jamaila Shu’ara; Professor of Economics, Ummu Jalingo; and Secretary-General of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Bolaji Ojibara, discussed education as a transformative tool for women’s empowerment.
They highlighted the need to bridge gender gaps in access to quality education, promote mentorship and digital literacy, and align curricula with emerging skills in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The experts also urged policymakers to ensure women are not merely beneficiaries but active drivers of innovation and national development.
In her welcome address, Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, convener of the summit and group managing director of AICL, said gender balance is not a women’s issue but a fundamental pillar of societal progress.
She commended the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his commitment to building a smart, inclusive, and investment-friendly capital city.
