AXA Mansard Expands Funding Support for Nigerian Womenpreneurs

• AXA Mansard is implementing funding and support measures specifically aimed at women-owned companies
• This measure seeks to redress the challenge that many women entrepreneurs face regarding funding

Nigerian financial services provider, AXA Mansard hopes to fill the "funding gap" faced by female entrepreneurs by offering them targeted funding and business development opportunities through their business development program which is aimed solely at female entrepreneurs.

This move by AXA Mansard follows a general trend where other providers in Nigeria do not lend to female entrepreneurs despite their increasing importance as contributors to employment and economic development due to their finance related issues.

Overall, AXA Mansard has committed to improving financial inclusion for all people by using both funding from her economy as well as new innovative product that will lead to economic development for people throughout Nigeria.

Through this partnership with the "Herconomy Conference 2026", AXA Mansard will also be leading the (annual) "Herconomy Conference" by hosting the Enterprise Challenge Program. This program will give female entrepreneurs the opportunity to receive funds and visibility through the "Herconomy Conference".

The Herconomy Conference provides an annual forum for discussion and debate regarding all areas of financial independence and career advancement for women in Nigeria.

The 2025 edition of an entrepreneurship event focused on identifying and rewarding female entrepreneurs through pitching competitions.

The top two recipients received cash awards: a first-place prize of N1.5 million from the event's sponsor, AXA Mansard, and a second-place prize of N1 million from the event's co-sponsor, the Lagos State Government; thus, three females received gifts from both sponsors totaling N2 million.

According to Adebola Surakat, CMO at AXA Mansard, “the availability of capital and proper information continues to be an important requirement for the success of female entrepreneurs” and that it is “critical to include” this initiative as part of developing a strategy for achieving sustainable growth.

Adebola continued, “when we discuss the development of a wealth creation, protection, and security strategy, we include our ‘AXA She Is in Charge’ initiative, which encourages and provides education and opportunities for women to build networks and achieve their entrepreneurial goals.”