Union Bank of Nigeria’s dedicated proposition for women, alpher, has partnered with Zuri Circle Network to support 98 female entrepreneurs through the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator Programme.
The initiative was designed to bridge the gap between women-led businesses and access to capital, business knowledge, mentorship and opportunities for sustainable growth, according to a statement on Tuesday.
The programme attracted 2,810 applications from women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, with 98 founders selected after a screening process involving business verification and compliance checks.
As part of its support for women entrepreneurs, Union Bank also provided grants to five women-led businesses that emerged as winners during the final pitch presentation of the programme.
The Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator was established to identify, support and strengthen promising women-led businesses through structured capacity building, mentorship, accountability and access to funding opportunities.
Participants underwent a screening process that assessed business registration, operational viability and financial record-keeping. This was aimed at ensuring that the selected entrepreneurs demonstrated potential for sustainable growth and readiness for investment.
The final cohort comprised businesses operating in agriculture, fashion, food production, technology, manufacturing, retail and professional services.
Throughout the programme, participants received business development support aimed at strengthening their operations, improving financial management, increasing competitiveness and positioning their businesses for expansion.
Speaking on the partnership, Head of Retail Banking at Union Bank of Nigeria, Vivian Imoh-Itah, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to achieve greater personal, professional and financial success.
“Through alpher, Union Bank remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women to thrive personally, professionally, and financially. Our partnership with Zuri Circle Network on the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator reflects our deliberate focus on supporting women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, knowledge, and financial access they require to build sustainable businesses,” Imoh-Itah said.
“By investing in enterprises owned by women, we are not only empowering individual founders but also contributing to economic growth, job creation, and greater financial inclusion across Nigeria,” she added.
The initiative addresses a challenge within Nigeria’s business environment, where many women entrepreneurs continue to face difficulties in accessing formal financing and opportunities to expand their businesses despite their contribution to economic activities.
Through the partnership between alpher and Zuri Circle Network, the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator seeks to help close this gap by connecting women-led businesses with funding, knowledge, networks and other resources needed to become investment-ready and achieve sustainable growth.
The partnership further reinforces Union Bank’s commitment to supporting women through financial solutions, strategic partnerships, capacity-building programmes and improved access to financial services.
Since its launch, alpher has continued to champion initiatives that support women at different stages of their personal and entrepreneurial journeys, helping them achieve greater financial independence and business success.
Through programmes such as the Fearless Female Founders Accelerator, Union Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, promoting financial inclusion and contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.