Prime Highlights
- LCCI urges stronger finance, market access, digital support for women-led businesses.
- Chamber pushes AfCFTA market access, digital capacity building for women entrepreneurs.
Key Facts
- Leye Kupoluyi, Olufemi Ogun lead Product Day 2026 push for women entrepreneurs.
- LCCI unveils Women in Industry Spotlight to showcase female business leaders.
Background
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for stronger support for women-owned businesses through improved access to finance, wider market opportunities and digital capacity building.
The Chamber said women entrepreneurs remain critical to Nigeria’s economic growth despite operating in a challenging business environment.
Speaking at the LCCI Women’s Group and SME Group Product Day 2026 in Lagos, LCCI President Leye Kupoluyi said recent economic indicators offer an opportunity for women-led businesses to expand, adding that sustained support would help them contribute more to national development.
The event, themed “She Trades, She Thrives: Showcasing Excellence, Connecting Markets,” featured product exhibitions, business networking, hangout sessions and discussions promoting women entrepreneurs.
Kupoluyi said the Chamber would keep advocating improved finance access by strengthening engagement with deposit money banks, development finance institutions, the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank. He warned that closing the credit gap remains essential, or the country risks losing gains made in non-oil GDP growth.
He also stressed positioning women entrepreneurs to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area, noting the Chamber would keep working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments to help women-owned businesses reach regional markets.
Kupoluyi added that LCCI would expand digital trade capacity-building programmes for women-led micro, small and medium enterprises.
Chair of the LCCI Women’s Group, Olufemi Ogun, described Product Day as a platform giving entrepreneurs visibility, market access and business connections. She announced a new Women in Industry Spotlight feature to showcase accomplished female entrepreneurs and inspire upcoming business leaders.
LCCI Vice President and FAE Ltd Managing Director Princess Layo Bakare-Okeowo urged business owners to embrace technology and involve their children early in family business succession planning.
