The insurer will headline the conference’s Enterprise Challenge, an initiative designed to support women-led businesses with funding and exposure, further reinforcing its commitment to building sustainable pathways for female entrepreneurs.

The Herconomy Conference, an annual gathering convened by the fintech platform, has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading forums for promoting women’s financial independence and career advancement.

With a community of more than 15,000 members, the platform is expected to attract over 1,000 female professionals, entrepreneurs and industry leaders at this year’s event, where discussions will centre on wealth creation, career growth and long-term economic impact.

AXA Mansard said its continued collaboration reflects a broader strategy to improve women’s financial resilience by expanding access to critical tools, knowledge and networks required to thrive in an evolving economy.

The partnership builds on the success of the 2025 edition, where standout women entrepreneurs received financial backing through a competitive pitch process.

Founder of Pemnia Wellness, Opeyemi Adebisi, emerged winner with a ₦1.5 million prize, while Bilqis Idaro of Posh Meals secured ₦1 million as first runner-up. Chimdiebube Orji, founder of Springsentia, received ₦500,000 as second runner-up.

Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, said empowering women financially remains critical to inclusive and sustainable development.

She noted that creating opportunities for women to access financial knowledge and resources can unlock broader economic potential, adding that the partnership aligns with ongoing conversations around wealth creation, financial protection and long-term security.

Surakat also highlighted the company’s “AXA She Is In Charge” initiative, which provides women with access to empowerment programmes, expert-led sessions and professional networks aimed at supporting personal and financial growth.

Through its sponsorship of the Enterprise Challenge and participation in the conference, AXA Mansard said it will continue to advocate inclusive financial solutions that enable women to build resilient businesses and secure their financial futures.

What has come to be referred to and acknowledged globally as the International Women’s Day has a long history that dates back to the early 1900s.

Central to this all-important discuss is the progressive marched by 15,000 women in 1908, through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

As significant as this could be, the first National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on February 28, a feat which can be credited to the declaration by the Socialist Party of America, where women continued to celebrate the national woman’s Day (NWD) on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

Again, historical timeline is replete with landslide emphasis underscoring the critical roles of women, which eventually snowballed into the International Women’s Day celebration.

In actual sense, and for records, the year 1910, marked the second international conference of Working Women, which was held courtesy of Clara Zetkin, who proposed that every year there should be a celebration on the same day – that is, a women’s day to press their freedom.

Against this noticeable effort, in 1911, and following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in Denmark in 1911, International Women’s Day was honored for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March, with more than one million women and men attending IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.

Techeconomy can go on and on to establish and lay a sordid structure for this pertinent and all-important occasion.

But to dwarf time and contract spaces, the following touch line suffices: 1913-1914- On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February 1917.

However, in the year 1975, International Women’s Day (IWD) was marked for the first time by the United Nations. Later on in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

Has anything changed since 1996?  Yes, the United Nations Organization (UN) announced its first annual theme “Celebrating the past, planning for the Future” which was followed in 1997 with “Women at the Peace table”, in 1998 with “Women and Human Rights”, in 1999 with “World Free of Violence Against Women”, and so on each year.

Let me save the stress of a long read, nonetheless, since the late 1990s to the millennium till date, women have grown to become a force to be reckoned with.

Therefore, in concert with the commemoration of International Women’s Day globally, a celebration which the United Nations tagged “Invest in women: Accelerate progress’’ we have chosen to beam our searchlight on organizations and individuals who have not only over time championed the course of economic emancipation, but have also given a new look and fresh perspective to womanhood in Africa and become a beacon of hope to humanity at large.

Of significance is the fact we cannot boast of having given you an exclusive list of all of them, but we can be sure you would appreciate these non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contributions toward championing women’s participation in science and technology, agriculture; they are on the vanguard for women’s rights and protection, empowerment and health:

Organizations Promoting Women in STEM

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates that only 22% of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM) subjects are women.

There are many NGOs focused on promoting women’s involvement and empowerment in science, tech and STEM in general. Here are a few notable ones:

1. African Women in Technology (AWIT)

Aims to empower and support African women in technology through networking events, workshops, and skill-building programs.

2. Afro-Tech Girls

In June 2014, three young Nigerian women came together with a vision: a world where the number of women in the STEM industries has risen and women feel welcomed and appreciated for their efforts and achievements.

They realized that one way to do this was by encouraging more young girls to take up STEM subjects at secondary school and university and stick with it even after education. Hence, Afro-Tech Girls was born to increase the participation of girls and young women in STEM.

3. She Code Africa

She Code Africa offers training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women in tech to enhance their skills and advance their careers.

4. TechHerNG

Here is a is a community of learning, support and collaboration for women working with technology.

It also a platform for encouraging entrepreneurship and providing basic support for women going into business.

TerHer also provides a platform for information sharing amongst women on basic day to day challenges with the aim of aiding empowerment and independence.

The founder believes that if women are exposed to the ways technology enables their daily activities, they will be more productive and empowered to have a voice in their community.

5. Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC)

Give it to W.TEC, an organzation that provides technology education, leadership training, and mentorship programs for girls and women to increase their participation in the tech sector.

6. Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN)

WITIN is a registered non-profit organization and association, dedicated to the advancement of women and girls.

WITIN fosters opportunities in tech; promotes tech leadership, digital skills and entrepreneurship initiatives and advocates gender equity reforms for women and girls;  and showcases the amazing women in the tech ecosystem as role model for girls while working closely with educators to bridge the leaky pipeline in STEAM(Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths).

The NGO achieves these goals through partnerships, sponsorships  and  donations. WITIN  nurtures a very strong community of women and girls in technology within Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

7. Women in Tech Africa

A Pan-African organization that advocates for gender equality in the tech industry through networking, mentorship, and capacity-building programs.

Over the years, WiTA has strategically focused on enabling women to drive Africa’s growth story and create an impact on personal life through technology.

Currently, its target audience comprises aspiring female tech entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40.

8. Nigerian Women In Information Technology (NIWIIT) is a special interest group of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). We are positioned to be a premier organisation known to successfully cultivate mutually beneficial Networks between industry, academia, and government, focusing on women working in Information Technology across the Nation.

Creation: (Mrs) Adeola Ilechukwu informed the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) at her 17th regular Council meeting on the 24th February 2012 that it would be necessary to create an Interest Group for female members of NCS

9. Women in STEM Leadership (WISL)

WISL is the premier organization for empowering women with the support and tools needed to elevate their careers and become agents of change in the STEM industry.

WISL is a network of like-minded women who are genuinely invested in helping you reach your potential.

These organizations play crucial roles in supporting and empowering women in science Nigeria, helping to break down barriers and create more opportunities for women to thrive in STEM fields.

10. Webfala Digital Skills For All Initiative (Webfala):

Webfala Digital Skills For All Initiative is not focused just on women, but they deserve a mention in this list.

The NGO has demonstrated commitment to providing digital education, resources and tools for the delivery of STEM, ICT and 21st century digital literacy skills to underserved youths in Africa. Their grassroot programmes have impacted over 20,000 people.

Organizations Promoting Women’s Health and Well-being

Nigeria’s 40 million women of childbearing age (between 15 and 49 years of age) suffer a disproportionally high level of health issues surrounding birth.

While the country represents 2.4 per cent of the world’s population, it currently contributes 10 per cent of global deaths for pregnant mothers. Figures show a maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births, the fourth highest on Earth.

Several NGOs in Nigeria focus on promoting women’s health and well-being. Here are some notable ones:

11. Society for Family Health (SFH) –

SFH implements various health programs targeting women, including reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and cervical cancer screening.

12. Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA)

WBFA focuses on maternal, newborn, and child health, providing education, training, and advocacy to improve access to healthcare services for women and children.

13. Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC)

WHARC carries our research, advocacy, and capacity-building activities to address women’s health issues, including reproductive health, maternal mortality, and gender-based violence.

Executive Director: Wilson Imongan

14. Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)

Here is an organization that promotes women’s health and rights through advocacy, education, and awareness-raising campaigns on issues such as sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and gender-based violence.

15. Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI)

NURHI implements family planning programs targeting urban areas, including efforts to increase access to contraception and reproductive health services for women.

These NGOs play a crucial role in addressing the health needs of women in Nigeria through various programs and initiatives aimed at improving their overall well-being and quality of life.

Organizations Promoting Financial Inclusion among Women

Data2x research uncovered important market findings – Nigeria’s gender gap in financial access grew from 10.2 percent to 12 percent between the years 2012 and 2020. Modeling conducted as part of research suggests that the gap will not drop below 10 percent until 2027.

However, some organizations are committed to reducing this number. They are dedicated to promoting financial inclusion for women. Some notable ones include:

16. Women’s World Banking (WWB) Nigeria:

WWB expands the economic assets, participation, and power of low-income women through access to finance, knowledge, and markets.

17. Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF):

NWTF works to increase the representation of women in governance and decision-making processes, including economic empowerment initiatives.

18. Herconomy

Herconomy is arguable Nigeria’s first Fintech Company for women dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs and professionals through financial services, capacity building, community, and opportunities.

19. HerVest.ng

HerVest is an inclusive fintech for women. The startup provides easy access to target savings, impact investments and credit financing for smallholder women farmers and women-owned/led SMEs in Nigeria.

Hervest is truly bridging the gender finance gap from the boardroom to the farmland.

The platform offers various services such as loans, investments, and market access solutions to support the agricultural value chain. Hervest.ng aims to empower farmers and promote sustainable agriculture by providing them with access to finance and market opportunities.

20. Mamamoni

Mamamoni is social enterprise that focuses on empowering low-income women by providing them with access to financial services, vocational training, and business support.

The organization offers microloans to women entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, to help them start or expand their businesses.

In addition to financial services, Mamamoni provides training programs in skills such as tailoring, catering, and soap making, equipping women with the tools they need to generate income and improve their livelihoods.

Overall, Mamamoni plays a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.

21. Shecluded

The fintech platform that provides financial services tailored to women, including savings, investments, and loans. They aim to empower women financially through education and access to suitable financial products.

These organizations and others like them play a crucial role in advancing financial inclusion for women in Nigeria through various programs, advocacy efforts, and partnerships.

Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Techeconomy!

Known as Project Radar, the platform built was an important step in safeguarding the integrity of the country’s thriving fintech ecosystem.

One year after its launch, the platform, now renamed Reporta, has successfully strengthened Nigeria’s financial sector in the fight against digital fraud.

Meant to serve as a joint fraud prevention network, the project has gained massive adoption, delivered noticeable impact and proved that collective action is need in securing the nation’s digital finance industry.

With the ever-increasing number of Nigeria’s fintech firms—home to over 217 startups and a sector that attracted nearly 50% of Africa’s total fintech funding between 2019 and mid-2023—the need for standard fraud prevention system has always been important.

Digital financial crimes have become technically advanced, with fraudsters taking advantage of any hole between isolated payment networks.

Reporta was developed as an industry-wide solution to counter these threats and protect millions of Nigerian users who rely on digital payments daily.

Today, Reporta is an independent, voluntary registry that is collectively owned by a group of financial and fintech organisations in Nigeria with board members rotated from various financial institutions.

The platform pulls together country-wide pockets of siloed information on suspicious digital behaviour. It proactively protects businesses from suspicious transactions by leveraging behavioural fingerprints.

Since its inception, Reporta has been accepted by over 25 leading banks, fintech companies, and verification platforms including Sterling Bank, Moniepoint, Busha, First Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, Dojah, Flutterwave, Voyance, Preambly, Remita, Paddy Cover, Globus Bank, Herconomy, Kredi Bank, VFD, and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

The platform reported over 50,000 fraudulent transactions, thereby allowing financial institutions to detect and block suspicious activities faster than ever before.

There are now plans to extend the project to the insurance industry, which is also susceptible to fraud.

Before its introduction, fraud alerts were often shared informally via WhatsApp groups, making real-time detection chaotic and unreliable.

Now, with Reporta’s centralized intelligent database, banks and fintech firms can quickly search for flagged transactions using BVN, account numbers, or phone numbers—resulting in a 70% improvement in fraud detection accuracy.

A fraud analytics officer at a bank acknowledged the platform’s impact. “Before Reporta, fraud reports were scattered and often buried in long chat threads. Now, with a quick search, we can immediately see flagged transactions and take action—saving millions in potential losses.”

Apart from transaction monitoring, the system also gives fraud analysis, which helps banks understand new fraud patterns and tackle risks before they escalate.

According to a fraud and compliance officer at another bank, before Reporta, siloed information didn’t help in getting up to date analytics on new trends people are using.

“Now we can check the dashboard and see these types of data, significantly increasing our fraud detection capabilities.”

The impact is even more pervasive in Nigeria’s fintech companies, which are much younger than the banks.

According to a staff at one of the leading fintech firms, Reporta has opened up access to more important data, enabling them to upgrade their infrastructure.

“Due to better access to crucial data, we can now update our infrastructure to be more secure and can better educate customers on how to protect their accounts.”

Reporta’s impact goes beyond technology—it’s about collaboration. Over the past year, the platform has forged strategic partnerships with financial institutions, security agencies, and regulatory bodies.

These partnerships have led to fraud intelligence sharing across banks and fintechs, improved coordination with law enforcement agencies to track and prosecute fraudsters, and new regulatory standard that aligns with fraud prevention system.

One of the biggest achievements was the hassle-free integration with Nigeria’s top banking networks, giving the ground for coordinated fraud reporting and prevention efforts across multiple financial institutions.

This level of cooperation is very important in the fight against fraudsters, who sometimes take advantage of weak points and update their tactics. With all hands-on deck, fintechs and banks can close security gaps and stay ahead of cybercriminals.

Looking ahead, Reporta is working towards maximizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to detect fraud patterns before they happen. Instead of relying on manual reporting, AI-powered fraud prevention will analyze transactional behaviours to detect fraud before it occurs, which gives traditional banks and fintechs the edge to proactively prevent losses instead of just reacting after it occurs.

The introduction of predictive analytics will further increase fraud intelligence, which will reduce false positives while legitimate transactions remain hassle-free.

According to Lead project engineer, Wilson Adenuga, this next phase of creativity, stating that AI fraud detection system will improve security for Nigeria’s fintech firms.

Within just one year, Reporta has moved from being a promising idea to an important fraud- prevention weapon used by top banks and fintech firms. Its impact is undeniable with tens of thousands of fraud cases have been identified and blocked, and financial platforms now have a more coordinated and efficient approach to fraud detection.

Spotify launched in South Africa in 2018 and in 38 more African countries in 2021. Okumu believes that Spotify is growing alongside its young population and is “resonating with a youthful audience… in a continent that is diverse as Africa. We needed to make sure that the product was custom-made for the region.”

Okumu acknowledges the musical complexities of the continent, and adds that it is important to “know that the world is ready and read indicators like the popularity and growth of different genres from the continent becoming billboard hits in the US, for example.”

She continues, “We’ve seen such amazing success from artists like Wizkid, who is now a billboard artist, something that 10 years ago we might have only dreamed of. I think that’s also very much a result of what streaming is doing in the music world as a whole. It’s enabling discovery.”

According to Okumu, “a lot of Africa is unbanked and does not use credit cards”. To best cater to its new market, Spotify leveraged a partnership with M-PESA, a mobile payment service which is local to Kenya. “We are continuing to ensure that we partner with different service providers across the continent to make sure that the lifestyle of the audience that we want to court also makes sense to the product or makes sense with the product.”

The playlist African Heat is an example of a customised playlist that creates a taste of various African nations. This has enabled discovery for all music lovers across the world, “When you see them being reflected in global charts, then you know that it’s not just a story that we are telling ourselves, the success is global, it’s real, it’s exciting.”

In Nigeria, CNN meets Ife Durosinmi-Etti, founder and CEO of Herconomy, who shares the difficulties she faced when raising money for her business.

The World Bank says all-female start-ups received only 3% of the almost 2 billion dollar of investment going to African tech start-ups from 2013 to 2021. “What I’ve noticed in the tech space is that women are over mentored and underfunded. We need to do more to fund more women and ensure that their businesses actually grow from small businesses to big businesses,” says Durosinmi-Etti.

Fara Ashiru Jituboh, founder and CEO of Okra, raised 3.5 million dollars of venture capital (VC) funding in 2021. “Last year was one of the biggest funding years generally across the board. This last year, if you look at venture capital dollars into technology companies were over 5 billion, 2021 getting close to 6 billion,” she says.

Founder of Ingressive Capital, Maya Horgan Famodu believes that with the help of advancing technical contributions, talent, and infrastructure, “We’re seeing the version 4.0 of a typical emerging market technology ecosystem.”

She adds, “I don’t think there is necessarily a shortage of women technical talent across Africa. If you look at Nigeria, the requirement now for 30% plus of board members to be female. There are a ton of women owned funds [in Nigeria]. Almost every prominent VC in Nigeria has a female partner. If you have a bunch of female founded funds that are hanging out in diverse communities, then likely their portfolios will be reflective. We’re continuously seeing that materialise. There is a literal higher return on investment and higher IRR with diverse teams.”

Durosinmi-Etti concludes, “While funding is very difficult for women to get, some women are getting it and it is opening up. Things are changing.”

Horgan Famodu believes “We are all capable and we are all requisite. We’re all required to build a better Africa.”