FCMB Partners Alitheia Capital to Empower Women-Led MSMEs at 2026 W.O.M.A.N. Conference
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has teamed up with Alitheia Capital as the exclusive banking partner for the 2026 W.O.M.A.N. Conference, scheduled for September 10 and 11 in Lagos.
Organised by Alitheia Capital, the two-day event will convene approximately 300 women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) operating in manufacturing, agribusiness, nutrition and related sectors. Participants will connect with financial institutions, investors, policymakers, development organisations and business leaders.
FCMB is supporting the conference through SheVentures, its specialised proposition for women-owned businesses. The programme will feature expert discussions, practical learning sessions and opportunities to explore financing, investment and market access. Key themes include governance, financial management, climate resilience, green manufacturing and energy transition.
Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head of Gender and Impact Sectors at FCMB, and Oluremi Agboola, Head of SME Asset Products at FCMB, will address participants. They will offer practical guidance on preparing businesses for finance and selecting funding options suited to different growth stages.
“Women are building businesses that create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to Nigeria’s productive economy. Through this partnership, we want to help more women develop the structures, knowledge and connections they need to move from running viable enterprises to building businesses that can scale,” Jacob-Ogogo said.
Agboola emphasised that the conference aims to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs seeking capital and institutions ready to support viable businesses. “Access to finance begins with readiness. Businesses with reliable records, sound financial management and clear growth plans are better positioned to secure funding. We will help participants understand these requirements and explore financing options that match their needs,” she noted.
Beyond the Lagos gathering, the 2026 W.O.M.A.N. programme will roll out cohort sessions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. It includes structured investment-readiness and access-to-finance pathways, plus digital capacity building via Alitheia Capital’s Nzinga learning platform. The initiative seeks to build a pipeline of women-led enterprises prepared for debt, equity and blended-finance solutions, aligning with national priorities for industrialisation, MSME growth, job creation, energy transition and women’s economic participation.
Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, said the programme targets structural barriers that prevent women entrepreneurs from turning potential into sustainable growth. “The gathering brings an ecosystem closer together to deliver systemic strategies that overcome challenges women face in labour markets and economic empowerment,” she stated. “The constraint is not ambition — it is access. W.O.M.A.N. 2026 is built to close that gap directly.”
The programme is delivered in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other private-sector and development partners.
