Bank Leverages Programme To Drive Financial Inclusion, Adds IFC-backed Training

Access Bank Plc has said Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton is part of its efforts to increase financial inclusion for female-owned businesses.

In its eight edition, the Bank will select 120 women entrepreneurs for a three-week Womenpreneur Mini-MBA programme delivered in partnership with International Finance Corporation (IFC), to commence in November 2026.

Speaking on the programme, the head of Product and Segment, Access Bank Plc, Chizoba Iheme, said Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton supports the bank’s broader financial inclusion agenda.

“Women are very important to what we do at Access Bank. Through Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton, we bring women into the financial system and support them through different stages of their business journey, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed,” Iheme said.

She noted that beyond providing seed capital, the bank’s approach is designed to support women throughout their business journey and ensure they have access to banking products that can help them scale.

The Season eight Mini-MBA will provide participants with practical business knowledge, mentorship and networks aimed at strengthening operations, improving decision-making and positioning businesses for sustainable growth.

Also, the programme manager, Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton, Ifeoluwa Oluwatosin Oyeyipo, said the selection process is designed to identify entrepreneurs with businesses that can maximize the opportunities provided through the programme.

She added that “the focus on scalability reflects an evolution of the programme from grant support to building a pipeline of women-led businesses capable of growing beyond their immediate markets.”

According to the bank, the impact of the programme is reflected in the progress of its graduates.

Head of Women Banking, Access Bank, Nene-Kunle Ogunlusi said many beneficiaries have expanded businesses locally and internationally, while others have gone on to train women in their communities.

“Beyond the numbers, what interests us most is what these women have been able to do with the training. We’ve seen beneficiaries grow their businesses locally and internationally, while others have gone on to train women in their communities. This shows the value of combining knowledge with access to markets,” Ogunlusi said.