The SME Mall Successfully Concludes Women in Business Grant Competition, Empowering Over 2,000 Women Entrepreneurs  

The SME Mall is thrilled to announce the successful completion of the Women in Business Grant Competition (WIBGC), a transformative initiative designed to support women entrepreneurs through grants, mentorship, and essential business resources.

Over 2,000 applications were received from women representing diverse industries, including tech, agriculture, healthcare, fashion, and education. The competition culminated in selecting three winners, who each demonstrated exceptional potential to scale their businesses and make a lasting impact.

The WIBGC offered participants a series of interactive training sessions, where they learned critical business skills such as business strategy & positioning, financial management, branding & marketing strategies, how to pitch your business and investment readiness. These sessions provided the women with the tools and insights they needed to develop and grow their businesses effectively. More than just a competition, the WIBGC empowered participants to transform their business models and scale for sustainable success.

After the comprehensive training, participants were evaluated based on several criteria,
including business viability, innovation, market potential, and financial feasibility. The
judging process saw 20 semi-finalists present their business ideas to a panel of esteemed
judges, with 6 finalists advancing to the Grand Finale. Each of these women brought forward innovative ideas and demonstrated resilience in the face of entrepreneurial challenges.

The competition concluded with the simultaneous announcement of three outstanding winners:
Blessing Aniefiok (Dynalimb Technologies, ₦1,000,000), Cynthia Ogwanighie (Kiyoko Foods Ltd, ₦500,000) and Badmos Comfort (Baams Creatives, ₦300,000).

MD/CEO of The SME Mall, emphasised the significance of empowering women entrepreneurs:

“The Women in Business Grant Competition was born out of a vision to equip women entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to excel in today’s competitive landscape. These women have shown that, with the right support, they can drive significant change and lead impactful businesses.”

The SME Mall extends heartfelt appreciation to the judges and facilitators who played an
instrumental role in ensuring the success of the competition. Special thanks are also due to
Nathan Finance and The Transition Business Conference, whose generous support made it possible to provide these women with the resources and platforms to grow their businesses.

As we wrap up this year’s competition, we are already looking forward to welcoming the next
cohort of ambitious and innovative women entrepreneurs in the upcoming cycle.

The SME Mall remains committed to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria by providing access to resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities. Through initiatives like the Women in Business Grant Competition, The SME Mall aims to continue supporting and elevating entrepreneurs, helping them turn their visions into reality and contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.