It has been observed that while women own 45 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, only 10 % have access to formal funding.

This was why FundQuest Financial Services Limited during the celebration of International Women’s Month expressed  commitment to change the narrative with the inaugural FundHER by FundQuest Conference.

The initiative brought together over 100 women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), providing them with actionable business insights, high-value networking, and, most importantly, access to funding.

FundQuest said it recognizes that empowering women entrepreneurs is not just a social cause but a fundamental driver of national economic growth.

Delivering the first keynote address, Dr. Jennifer Seidu, Principal Consultant, JV Management Consulting Limited, underscored the critical hurdles female entrepreneurs face including constrained access to funding, market expansion limitations, regulatory roadblocks, and operational inefficiencies.

She lauded FundQuest’s decisive intervention through FundHER, recognizing the initiative as a timely and much-needed response to the financial inequities that women-led businesses encounter.

Group Head, Brand Communication and Customer Experience at FundQuest, Joan Ediagbonya, reinforced these concerns with data, pointing out that while women own 45% of SMEs in Nigeria, only 10% have access to formal funding.

FundQuest, through FundHER, is ensuring that women entrepreneurs receive the recognition, capital, and support they need to drive sustainable business success.

The conference also spotlighted real stories of resilience and growth, featuring women-led businesses that have leveraged FundQuest’s financial solutions. Mrs. Adebimpe Osanyintuyi, Founder of Dio’s Dlite Greek Yogurt & Treats, detailed how FundQuest’s funding enabled her to scale her food processing and distribution business.

Similarly, Ms. Olubukola Olaigbe, CEO of Veedic Nigeria Limited, shared how accessing financing from FundQuest facilitated her logistics firm’s expansion, proving that with the right financial support, women entrepreneurs can achieve remarkable business growth.

In the second keynote speech, Mrs. Kehinde Olomojobi, Treasurer at Union Bank, emphasized the importance of financial discipline; urging entrepreneurs to separate personal and business finances, implement structured salaries, and embrace reinvestment strategies.

Speaking on the future of FundHER, Mr. Abiodun Akinjayeju, Managing Director and CEO of FundQuest, stressed that funding women’s business is tantamount to funding the economy.

Women entrepreneurs have consistently demonstrated resilience, innovation, and leadership, and FundQuest is fully committed to being their financial partner of choice,” he said.