Prosper Okoye
Unsung women who sustain Nigeria’s economy through informal trade, agriculture, health services, and education need stronger financial support and recognition, Ford Foundation West Africa Regional Director Chi Chi Aniagolu said Saturday.
Speaking at the Women of Power Project organized by Tricorm in partnership with Zenith Bank, Aniagolu said women make up nearly 70% of the informal sector and own about 48% of businesses, yet only a small fraction can access formal loans or financial backing.
“This is a paradox,” she said. “Women are powering the economy, but they are not shaping it.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe gender gap extends into politics, where women hold less than 7% of parliamentary seats — among the lowest rates in West Africa, Aniagolu said.
She highlighted the work of “unsung” women in markets, schools, and health facilities whose daily labour sustains households and communities despite economic hardship. Aniagolu told the story of Iya Amina, a Lagos market trader who wakes at 4:30 a.m. daily to prepare goods, serve dozens of customers, and support her family — a representative of millions whose contributions rarely receive public recognition.
Grassroots initiatives that empower women have shown results, she said, citing women-led cooperatives and community organisations across West Africa that influence local economic development.
Aniagolu said greater inclusion of women is a development imperative, noting research showing that female participation strengthens economic growth, builds resilient communities, and stabilises societies. She urged governments to implement gender equality frameworks, including the Maputo Protocol, and design financial systems and social protections that reach informal entrepreneurs.
“Women cannot continue to succeed despite the system, but because of it,” she said. “If we want stronger economies, more resilient communities, and more just societies, we must invest in women — all women, visible and unsung alike.”
READ ALSO:
Ford Foundation Grantees Advance Climate Justice Across West Africa
Ford Foundation President Concludes First Official Visit to Nigeria
Ford Foundation Calls For Strategic Diaspora Philanthropy To Promote Sustainable Africa
The event brought together government officials, corporate partners, and grassroots leaders to honour women whose quiet but consistent leadership drives Nigeria’s economic and social engine.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
