Nigerian Entrepreneur Layal Jade Tinubu Empowers 20 Women with Naira 70 Million in Grants

• Layal Jade Tinubu gives out business grants totaling more than ₦70 million
• The funding helps 20 female entrepreneurs
• grants given out by the Be Empowered initiative's second iteration

As part of the second iteration of the Be Empowered initiative, which she leads in partnership with the Noella Foundation, Layal Jade Tinubu has given 20 female entrepreneurs business grants totaling more than ₦70 million. On Saturday, April 12, a one-day summit in Lagos, Nigeria, with the goal of supporting women-led businesses, drew over 150 attendees.

This year, the program received over 2,500 applications nationwide. Two hundred of these entrepreneurs were selected to attend the summit. Five finalists presented their companies to a panel of judges on April 10. Nine winners—some chosen from the pitch session, others based on their applications—were revealed at the summit. Later, grants were given to 11 more women, increasing the total number of recipients to 20.

In her welcome address, Layal Founder and Managing Director of Tots Toys and Co-founder of the Noella Foundation—emphasized the programmes mission: “These financial empowerments will help them start, sustain, and scale,” she said, reflecting her broader vision to support women entrepreneurs across Nigeria.

Ibiyinka Ibru, CEO of Moneystart, and Elizabeth Isiorho, founder of BETH Model Management, were among the prominent speakers who led thought-provoking sessions at the summit. During a fireside chat, Tinubu shared personal details about her journey as an entrepreneur, her departure from the corporate world, and how she manages her family and business lives.

Returning to share their success stories, alumni from the 2024 edition attributed their improvements in business operations, structure, and strategic growth to the program. They emphasized how their endeavors had benefited from the combination of grant funding and rigorous bootcamp training.

Prior to the summit, the 20 grantees this year attended a five-week bootcamp that covered important topics like financial literacy, business scalability, operational efficiency, and strategic planning. To guarantee real-world, outcome-driven learning, industry professionals led the training.

Beyond just providing financial assistance, the Be Empowered program gives female entrepreneurs the resources, instruction, and guidance they need to create long-lasting and significant enterprises.