Grants for Women and Girls: Legitimate Funding, Empowerment and Opportunity Programmes in Nigeria and Africa
For a woman trying to grow a small business, fund a community project or create opportunities for other women and girls, access to finance can make the difference between an idea remaining on paper and becoming something that creates lasting impact. In Nigeria, this issue has received increasing attention. The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) was launched in 2026 as a nationwide initiative focused on women's economic inclusion, with the programme aiming to reach millions of women through access to finance, skills, markets and support. The African Development Bank also reports a substantial financing gap for women-owned and women-led businesses across Africa. Its AFAWA initiative is designed specifically to improve women's access to finance and business support. But there is an important point many applicants miss: Not every opportunity described as a "women's grant" is a grant. Some programmes provide direct grants, while others offer loans, b...