Women entrepreneurs and professionals have commended Ecobank Nigeria for strengthening support for women-owned businesses through the launch of the Enhanced Ellevate Proposition (Ellevate 2.0), an upgraded initiative aimed at expanding access to finance, markets, and capacity development for women across Nigeria.

The upgraded programme was unveiled in Lagos at an event themed “Her Voice. Her Power. Her Growth.” The gathering brought together female business leaders and professionals who shared insights on leadership, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

Delivering the keynote address titled “The True Woman Power: Strength Rooted in Identity, Resilience and Purpose,” Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder of Gatimo Limited and Creative Director of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, praised the bank for its longstanding support for women entrepreneurs.

Ogunlesi recalled how the bank supported her business during its formative years when other institutions declined her request for financing. She encouraged women to embrace self-awareness, resilience, and purpose as key drivers of long-term success.

A panel discussion featuring Bode Abifarin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Strata Advisory; Titilayo Adesoga, Chief Executive Officer of Village Farms Commerce and Exchange; and Subuola Oyeleye, Founder of Beauty Hut Africa, highlighted the importance of adaptability, resilience, and strategic thinking in building sustainable enterprises.

Abifarin spoke on the courage required to evolve as a leader, stressing the importance of adaptability, intentional growth, and embracing new opportunities despite challenges.

Adesoga encouraged women to take ownership of their personal and business narratives, sharing experiences about overcoming barriers and the role of strategic thinking in building resilient businesses.

Oyeleye also inspired participants with her journey of building a thriving beauty brand through creativity, consistency, and deep understanding of customer needs, emphasizing that women can build globally competitive businesses from Nigeria.

Welcoming participants, Ayo Osolake, Head of Premier Banking and Wealth Management at Ecobank Nigeria, who represented the Managing Director and Regional Executive, Bolaji Lawal, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting women’s economic participation.

According to her, the enhanced Ellevate proposition has evolved into a bank-wide offering designed to provide women entrepreneurs with improved access to credit, integrated digital payment and cash-management solutions, capacity-building programmes, and expanded market opportunities through the Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub — the bank’s digital platform connecting businesses across Africa.

Also speaking, Victoria Igun, Ellevate Manager at Ecobank Nigeria, described the upgraded initiative as a strategic step toward strengthening women’s access to finance, markets, and business networks.

She explained that the programme is designed to create stronger pathways for women entrepreneurs and professionals to build sustainable enterprises and transform their ambitions into measurable economic impact.

The bank also highlighted its continued support for women-led enterprises through platforms such as Adire Lagos, Oja Oge, +234Art Fair, Lagos Pop‑Up Museum, SME Bazaar, and the Design & Build Exhibition, which provide visibility, market access, and growth opportunities for women-owned businesses across the country.