Union Bank of Nigeria’s women-focused proposition, alpher, has partnered with Zuri Circle Network (ZCN) to empower 98 female entrepreneurs through the Fearless Female Founders (FFF) 2.0 Accelerator Programme.
The initiative was designed to address key challenges faced by women-led businesses, particularly limited access to capital, business knowledge, mentorship and networks required for sustainable growth.
The programme received 2,810 applications from women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, with 98 founders selected following a rigorous screening process that included business verification and compliance checks.
As part of its support for women entrepreneurs, Union Bank provided grants to five women-led businesses that emerged as winners at the programme’s final pitch presentation.
The Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator was created to identify and strengthen promising women-owned businesses through structured capacity building, mentorship, accountability and access to funding opportunities.
Participants underwent a comprehensive screening process covering business registration, operational viability and financial record-keeping. The process was aimed at ensuring that selected businesses demonstrated strong growth potential and readiness for investment.
The final cohort represented various sectors of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including agriculture, fashion, food production, technology, manufacturing, retail and professional services.
Throughout the accelerator, participants received practical business development support focused on strengthening their operations, improving financial management, enhancing competitiveness and positioning their businesses for expansion.
Speaking on the partnership, Head of Retail Banking at Union Bank of Nigeria, Vivian Imoh-Itah, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to achieve greater personal, professional and financial success.
“Through alpher, Union Bank remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women to thrive personally, professionally, and financially.
Our partnership with Zuri Circle Network on the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator reflects our deliberate focus on supporting women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, knowledge, and financial access they require to build sustainable businesses,” Imoh-Itah said.
She added that investing in women-owned enterprises goes beyond supporting individual entrepreneurs, noting that it also contributes to economic growth, job creation and greater financial inclusion across Nigeria.
The initiative comes amid persistent challenges for women entrepreneurs seeking formal financing and opportunities to scale their businesses, despite the significant role women-owned enterprises play in economic activity.
Through the partnership, alpher and Zuri Circle Network are seeking to close this gap by connecting women-led businesses with funding, knowledge, networks and other resources needed to become investment-ready and achieve sustainable growth.
The partnership also reinforces Union Bank’s commitment to empowering women through innovative financial solutions, strategic partnerships, capacity-building initiatives and improved access to financial services.
Since its launch, alpher has continued to support women at different stages of their personal and entrepreneurial journeys, with initiatives aimed at promoting financial independence, business growth and long-term success.
Through programmes such as the Fearless Female Founders Accelerator, Union Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, advancing financial inclusion and contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.
