The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says it is working to shift women entrepreneurs from dependence on microloans to long-term wealth creation through the capital market.
SEC Director-General Dr. Emomotimi Agama, represented by Executive Commissioner, Operations, Mr. Bola Ajomale, spoke on Monday at the “Give to Gain” Summit in Abuja.
He said the goal is to give women-led businesses access to investment instruments that enable expansion and asset ownership, not just short-term credit.
*23 Million Female Entrepreneurs*
Agama noted that Nigerian women own 41% of micro-businesses — about 23 million female entrepreneurs — well above the 21% global average.
“These women are not waiting to be empowered. They are already driving commerce. What they lack is not ambition. They lack access to the instruments that would allow their ambition to compound,” he said.
*Five SEC Steps to Close the Gap*
To bridge that gap, Agama listed five measures the Commission is rolling out retail access Deploy tech-driven platforms to reduce entry barriers for first-time investors, with a focus on women.
Investor education*: Expand financial literacy programmes in local languages, targeting underserved regions with high exclusion rates.
3. *Tailored products*: Promote low-cost investment options and collective investment schemes designed for small-scale entrepreneurs.
4. *Gender-focused finance*: Embed gender considerations into Nigeria’s sustainable finance framework to unlock funding through gender-responsive and sustainability-linked securities.
Investor protection*: Strengthen market transparency, disclosure standards, and dispute resolution mechanisms to build confidence.
Agama called on private sector players to support the drive by lowering market access barriers, extending financial services to underserved communities, and raising women’s representation in corporate leadership.
