WHY NIGERIA MUST ESTABLISH A CLEAR DEFINITION FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

Nigerian women are driving businesses, creating jobs, and supporting livelihoods—in boardrooms, markets, on farms, and online. 

Yet despite their vital contributions, they still struggle to secure financing, win contracts, or access government programs. A key obstacle is the absence of an official definition for “women-owned business” in Nigeria.

This regulatory gap acts as a hidden barrier, preventing millions of women entrepreneurs from fully participating in economic growth.

Elsewhere in Africa, nations that have formally defined women-owned businesses have unlocked tailored financing, guaranteed inclusion in public procurement, and crafted gender‑responsive policies. In Nigeria, however, the lack of a clear definition leaves banks, government agencies, and donors without a consistent standard for identifying and supporting women-led enterprises.

As a result, many women fall through the cracks, unable to access the very tools designed to support them. Without a definition, how can we collect gender-specific business data or design programs that close the persistent inequality gaps?

To address this, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the Investment Climate Reform Facility, facilitated a landmark dialogue involving government, civil society, women’s business networks, and the private sector.

Agbaidu Jideani is the Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry