Women across Nigeria are voicing their aspirations for economic empowerment and Highlighting both their economic ambitions and the barriers they face.
The women revealed both their ambitions and the obstacles that stand in their way on a survey conducted by Nigeria Health Watch, in collaboration with the White Ribbon Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, that gathered insights from 100,000 women aged 15 to over 55, analyzing over 102,000 open-ended responses.
The findings highlighted a strong desire among Nigerian women to achieve financial independence, start or expand businesses, and secure better economic opportunities.
However, according to the survey, the ambitions are often curtailed by systemic barriers such as lack of capital, limited job opportunities, and societal restrictions.
Analyzing the women’s open-ended responses, the survey reveals that 34% of women aspire to own or expand a business, with key industries of interest including apparel and beauty (17%), agriculture (15%), and food and drink (14%). Other ambitions include financial independence, education, and healthcare.
Despite their aspirations, 62% of respondents identified lack of start-up capital or equipment as the most significant barrier.
Limited job opportunities, low-profit margins, and time constraints were cited by 12%, while 15% pointed to insufficient training and sponsorship.
Cultural practices further hinder access to land for women in agriculture, while 6% reported that power dynamics, discrimination, and insecurity impede progress, in addition to obstacles that included restrictive government policies, inadequate infrastructure, and health concerns.
The survey indicated that Nigerian women expressed a strong need for financial assistance, with 41% identifying start-up capital or equipment as essential.
Family support and sponsorship (31%) and improved job opportunities (13%) were also deemed critical while education and training (7%), as well as addressing systemic power imbalances and insecurity (4%), were recognized as key enablers of economic success by the women.
Economic data supports the findings that indicate that women in Nigeria, who constitute 37.1% of the informal economy, are among the most entrepreneurial globally.
However, it noted that 90% of businesses in this sector generate less than N500,000 in monthly profit even as Nigeria is home to approximately 40 million MSMEs, nearly 90% of which operate informally.
Despite their contributions, the survey noted that less than 1% of the 2023 national budget was allocated to women’s economic empowerment initiatives.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for systemic change, “True empowerment requires financial literacy, digital skills, and policies that meet women where they are. We must move beyond inclusion to ownership, investment, and leadership,” Fifehan Osikanlu, founder of Eden Ventures, said.
On his part, Chief Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, CEO of TOS, added, “Economic power gives women the ability to make choices that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities. It is essential for national development.”
The survey also discovered that by addressing financial and structural barriers, policymakers, advocacy groups, and financial institutions can unlock the economic potential of Nigerian women, fostering long-term growth and development.
According to the survey, 34% of women identified business ownership or expansion as their primary economic goal, with many focusing on specific industries such as apparel and beauty (17%), agriculture (15%), and food and drink (14%).
Other respondents expressed aspirations related to financial stability, education, and healthcare.
“My biggest economic ambition is to be a banker. What’s stopping me is my parents and society. The support most helpful to help me reach it is advocacy on allowing women to choose their careers and fulfill their dreams,” said a 35-year-old woman from Minna, Niger State.
Despite their ambitions, the path to economic empowerment is fraught with challenges, as the survey found that 62% of women cited lack of start-up capital or equipment as the most significant barrier to achieving their economic goals.
Other hurdles included job availability, low-profit margins, and time constraints (12%), followed by the need for family support or sponsorship (8%), education and training (7%), and systemic issues like discrimination, power dynamics, and insecurity (6%).
The findings also showed that government policies, infrastructure access, and health concerns were also noted but to a lesser extent.
“My biggest economic ambition is to be a rice seller. What’s stopping me from reaching it is money. Bags of rice would be most helpful to reach it,” shared a 69-year-old woman from Kebbi, Kebbi State.
The survey also sought to understand the types of support women believe would be most beneficial in overcoming these barriers.
Access to start-up capital or equipment emerged as the most critical need, with 41% of respondents highlighting it as the key to achieving their goals.
Family support or sponsorship (31%) and better job opportunities (13%) were also frequently mentioned, while education and training (7%) and tackling power imbalances, discrimination, and insecurity (4%) were recognized as important factors in fostering economic growth for women.
“My biggest economic ambition is to become a medical doctor. What’s stopping me from reaching it is a lack of school fees to continue from where I stopped. A scholarship would be most helpful to reach it,” said an 18-year-old from Kebbi.
The Foundation stated that in furtherance of its support for and collaboration with the government, and the survey has revealed tangible needs that can be met with targeted solutions in Nigeria, giving leaders and advocacy groups clear direction on where and how to create more freedom for women to pursue their ambitions.
“By meeting women with the specific kinds of resources and support that they have called for, local leaders, governments, and outside partners can more effectively remove the barriers that stand between them and their economic power enriching their life, their community, and the world beyond,” the BMGF added.
