Access Bank Plc through its W Initiative has upgraded the grand prize for its annual Womenpreneur Pitchedition (Season 6) to ₦7 million up from ₦5 million.
Access Bank has officially launched the eighth season of its Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton initiative, increasing its top financial grant to ₦7 million to help female entrepreneurs expand their businesses.
The initiative aims to address key reasons why many small businesses fail within their first five years such as a lack of formal business training, inadequate structure and limited access to capital. Since its launch, the program has trained over 1,141 female business owners across 10 African countries and disbursed more than $200,000 in direct grants.
Beyond funding, the program provides comprehensive training to ensure long-term business survival. Access Bank is partnering with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to offer selected participants a free, three-week mini-MBA program starting in November.
This educational phase focuses on practical management skills, financial discipline and investment readiness. By helping female founders organize their operations and keep clear financial records, the initiative prepares businesses to qualify for traditional bank loans and attract outside investors.
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For this edition, 120 female business owners will be selected for the mini-MBA training. Out of these participants, the top winner will receive the main ₦7 million grant while 19 other outstanding entrepreneurs will receive cash funding to support their growth plans.
To qualify for the program, applicants must meet a few basic criteria. They must be female business owners aged between 18 and 55 who hold at least 50% ownership in their company.
Also, the business must have been actively operating for at least one year and the owner must maintain an active Access Bank account.
Bank executives noted that the overall goal is to build resilient, scalable businesses across Africa that can create jobs and drive long-term economic stability in their local communities.
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Praise fortune is a tech analyst and journalist based in Nigeria, Her work serves as a vital bridge between complex corporate maneuvers and the everyday reader, breaking down high-stakes financial, regulatory, and technological shifts across the African continent into clear highly readable narratives. With a deep focus on fintech, traditional banking transformation and digital infrastructure, she have become a dedicated analyst of the architects building Africa’s digital economy.
