Maureen Okpe
The United Kingdom,UK, has restated its strong support for inclusive and sustainable economic growth across Africa, with a special focus on empowering women-led businesses in Nigeria.
Speaking at the second edition of W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia, held at his residence in Lagos, British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Jonny Baxter emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and advancing Nigeria’s transition to clean and sustainable energy solutions.
Baxter said, “We are proud to collaborate with Alitheia Capital on W.O.M.A.N. to drive Africa’s green industrial future. We recognise the indispensable role of women in this transition and are committed to expanding access to capital and capability to ensure sustainable growth.”
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W.O.M.A.N, which stands for Women in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Nutrition, is an initiative by Alitheia Capital, a leading gender-lens impact investing firm. The event was hosted in partnership with Manufacturing Africa, a UK government programme that promotes foreign investment in Africa’s manufacturing sector.
This year’s theme, “Scaling Sustainable Manufacturing & Energy Transition for Women-led SMEs in Africa,” drew stakeholders from various sectors including renewable energy, agribusiness, finance, and manufacturing.
With Nigeria facing rising fuel prices and electricity tariffs, discussions centred on how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can adopt clean energy to remain competitive and sustainable.
According to insights from Alitheia Capital’s portfolio, some businesses that have embraced renewable energy have reduced operational costs by as much as 60%, making clean energy not just an environmental solution but an economic one.
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Tokunboh Ishmael, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Alitheia Capital said, the narrative have shifted from sustainability as a nice-to-have.
Adding, “It’s an economic imperative, especially for women entrepreneurs at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial transformation. Through W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia, we are not only spotlighting solutions, we are scaling them. This is proof that green transition is not only possible but profitable.”
Industry leaders who participated in the event included Yemisi Iranloye, CEO of Psaltry; Affiong Williams, CEO of ReelFruit; Temilola Adepetun, MD of SKLD; James Fabola, CFO of Arnergy Solar; Bukola Badmos, Executive Director and CFO at Starsight Energy; and Sarah Ogbewey, Head of Strategic Partnerships for Renewable Energy & Mobility at Sterling Bank.
The renowned industry leaders shared their insights on clean energy financing, sustainable supply chains, and the policies needed to foster a thriving green business ecosystem in Nigeria.
During the event, Alitheia Capital launched Nzinga, a new SME capacity-building platform aimed at equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to scale their businesses sustainably.
The event ended with an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) knowledge session and an exhibition showcasing clean energy and green manufacturing solutions.
Attendees issued a united call to action to expand access to affordable capital, enhance business ecosystems, and implement policies that will drive inclusive, gender-equitable green industrialization across Nigeria and Africa.