In a bold reaffirmation of its mission to bridge the gender and economic divide through financial inclusion and promoting literacy, HerVest, an inclusive fintech platform, convened a diverse audience of professionals, entrepreneurs, and young changemakers for the third edition of its flagship event, ValueUp 3.0.
Held recently at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre in Lagos, the event was themed ‘Financial Wellness: Adapt, Grow & Thrive’, and explored practical strategies for building financial resilience and achieving long-term economic stability.
Delivering her opening remarks, Solape Akinpelu, the event convener and chief executive officer of HerVest, said;
“The journey to an equitable and prosperous society is not an isolated one. It starts with me and you and to everyone in the room whose presence embodies the possibility of equal opportunities. Financial inclusion for us is not just about access to money. Rather, it is about access to knowledge, networks, and long-term growth.”
“This year’s theme challenges us all to not just pursue success, but to be financially and emotionally prepared for the future. When I started HerVest, it wasn’t just an ambition. It was out of a quiet conviction that women’s financial growth should be normal, not extraordinary. It was born out of a desire that access, and capital should be available, woven around women’s realities and peculiarities such as the unpaid labour, biological functions leading to career and business pauses amongst others.”
Akinpelu stated further that “financial literacy and inclusion are catalysts for change. We are building an ecosystem where women are equipped with the skills and resources needed to lead financially empowered lives. We will continue to create spaces where people can learn, grow, and build a prosperous future.”
In her keynote address, the Founder of Beyond Limits Global and Former Director at Google West Africa, Dr. Juliet Ehimuan, stressed the critical need for individuals to recalibrate their understanding of wealth beyond income or status, particularly in today’s evolving economic landscape and the need to have the courage to make informed financial decisions.
“We must embrace change, harness the power of technology, and take bold steps toward economic independence. The goal is no longer just financial access, but financial adaptability,” Dr. Ehimuan said.
This year, the ValueUp 3.0 event featured three deeply engaging panel sessions that addressed entrepreneurship, career development in the digital age, and strategic wealth building.
The entrepreneurship panel, titled ‘From Side Hustle to Scalable Venture: What It Takes,’ had respected voices like popular Costume designer, Film & Television Yolanda Okereke, Guinness World-record Chef, Food Entrepreneur & Television Personality, Hilda Baci, and Founder, Caladium Consulting, Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye, share personal insights into the discipline, systems, and support structures needed to grow informal businesses into scalable ventures. Usman Imanah moderated the session, steering conversations around opportunity identification, resilience, and fundraising.
In the second panel, ‘Thriving in the Age of AI and Remote Work,’ the panel speakers including Partner, Alan and Grant Gbenga Totoyi; Head of People Strategy & Operations, Flutterwave, Victoria Vodunnu; Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, TRACE, Ego Obiegbunam, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, explored how the modern workforce must evolve to meet the demands of technology-driven economies.
The speakers delved into how the lines between work, purpose, and wellness are increasingly blurred, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence, upskilling, and flexible career trajectories. The session was moderated by Tobi Alaka of Empowher NG.
The third session, ‘Wealth for the Next Generation: Investing with Purpose,’ examined the strategies for building intergenerational wealth and using money as a tool for impact. The panelists Head, Youth Banking, Wema Bank, Bunmi Ayodele; Head, Investment Banking, Meristem Capital Limited, Rasaki Salawu; the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Adebayo-Thomas, and Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, TVC Communications, Victoria Abiola Ajayi, unpacked the principles of financial literacy, intentional investing, and long-term financial planning. The Group Treasurer, OANDO Plc, Peju Faloye moderated the dialogue, which reinforced the idea that wealth creation should be deeply personal and purpose-driven.
A standout moment from the event was the fireside chat with popular chess advocate and Guiness World record holder, Tunde Onakoya, and celebrated leadership coach and Chief Executive Officer of IMMERSE Coaching Company, Debola Deji-Kurunmi (DDK), moderated by Solape Akinpelu.
The conversation was anchored on personal transformation and community impact, with both speakers highlighting how mastery, mentorship, and value-based leadership can serve as a compass for economic and personal growth.
Beyond the knowledge-sharing sessions, the event highlighted HerVest’s ongoing commitment to democratising financial access to women across Nigeria, particularly those in underserved communities. Having impacted over more than 10,000 female farmers and entrepreneurs across states including Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Oyo, Kwara, and Ogun among others, the inclusive fintech platform remains at the forefront of promoting financial inclusion through its competitive savings returns, easy to access credit facilities, agro-investments, and various gender-driven financial literacy resources.
While it continues to create opportunities for financial wellness through its inclusive digital platform for its growing 80,000 members, HerVest has processed more than N3,000,000,000 billion worth of transactions on its innovative platform, providing adequate support for women farmers, entrepreneurs and those on the fringes of financial services across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas access credit, help them save, get the required literacy and other tools that foster sustainable growth and the desired financial stability.
In addition, HerVest has facilitated the farming of more than 1,235 acres of farmland to smallholder women farmers in local communities across different states in Nigeria to further bridge the financial dependence gap and light a path toward economic empowerment where no one regardless of gender or background, is left behind.
