AfriLabs Begins 12-Week Enterprise Development Programme for Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs
AfriLabs has kicked off the enterprise development phase of its RevUp Women Initiative in Nigeria, bringing 150 women-led businesses into a structured acceleration programme across three major cities.
The 12-week programme, which began in February, operates through innovation hubs in Lagos, Abuja, and Abia State. Funded by the Visa Foundation, the initiative targets early-stage businesses in e-commerce and agribusiness, two sectors with significant growth potential in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Training Model and Structure
Participants were onboarded in December 2025 and are now working through a hybrid format that combines in-person sessions with technology-enabled learning. The programme design reflects practical realities: hub partners collaborate directly with entrepreneurs to address challenges as they emerge, rather than relying on rigid schedules.
The curriculum covers business growth fundamentals, market expansion strategies, and investment readiness. Beyond classroom learning, participants receive mentorship from experienced African businesswomen and engage in hands-on activities designed to build operational capacity.
The programme concludes with a demo day where selected participants will compete for equity-free grants totaling $24,000.
Broader Initiative Context
RevUp Women launched its first continental programme in 2024, distributing $100,000 in grants to 10 women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes at AfriLabs, emphasized at that showcase that backing women entrepreneurs represents both sound economics and social progress.
The Nigerian edition represents a strategic expansion focused on a single market with concentrated resources. By narrowing geographic scope while increasing participant numbers, AfriLabs aims to build deeper networks and provide more sustained support within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Funding Landscape
The initiative addresses a persistent capital gap. Women-led startups across Africa consistently attract disproportionately low venture funding despite evidence of strong business performance. The RevUp Women model combines capacity building with access to non-dilutive capital—recognizing that training alone cannot overcome structural funding barriers.
AfriLabs, which operates as a pan-African network of technology hubs, launched RevUp Women in 2023 with support from the Visa Foundation’s Equitable Access Initiative. The programme aligns with the organization’s goal of supporting 50,000 women-led enterprises across the continent by 2026.
The current cohort will move through structured learning phases over the coming weeks before presenting to potential funders and partners. Results from the programme’s first iteration showed participants using grants for operational expansion and infrastructure investments in their businesses.
