Women Empowerment Fund (WEF), a women-focused economic empowerment initiative founded by Ms Chantel Abdul, Group Managing Director of MOJEC Group, was officially launched in Lagos on Tuesday.
This landmark event brought together over 800 women, predominantly from Nigeria's informal sector, offering practical business support as well as capacity building sessions. As part of the empowerment campaign, 120 women benefited from a combination of equipment and financial assistance, including 55 grinding machines, 23 industrial sewing machines and 63 hair dryers, as well as cash grants totaling up to ₹12 million. All assistance was provided through the Women Empowerment Fund.
The initiative is designed to help women entrepreneurs transition from subsistence-level enterprises to sustainable and scalable businesses.
Speaking at the launch, Ms Chantel Abdul, Founder and Convener of WEF, said the initiative was created to address the persistent gender gap in access to capital, mentorship and economic opportunities by women in Sub-Saharan Africa.
She said WEF began as a dream and has now become a living reality, encouraging women to continue dreaming boldly and to never underestimate their identity or potential. According to her, “Women are the foundation of every society.”
“This fund is built on impact. It's about giving women the tools, confidence and support they need to grow their businesses and create lasting value within their communities. When women are empowered, families thrive and economies grow,” Abdul said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ayomide Oluwasade, said the financial assistance would significantly improve their business operations, noting that access to capital was a major challenge before the intervention.
The event also included an engaging panel session with distinguished leaders, including Mrs. Mojisola Abdul, Chairperson of MOJEC Group; Mrs. Omowunmi Akingbohungbe of Winbiz; Ms. Chantel Abdul; and Mrs. Adebisi Ajayi, Head of Gender and Development, Bank of Industry. The panel shared insights on women's economic inclusion, access to finance and sustainable enterprise development.
The Women Empowerment Fund is a national initiative committed to transforming the economic lives of women – particularly in Nigeria's informal sector – by providing access to tools, training, mentorship and opportunities for sustainable development.
