ABOUT WENA

Building Women. Strengthening Businesses. Transforming Economies.

WenA is a leading platform empowering women entrepreneurs and female-led businesses in
Nigeria and across Africa

An Institution Built for Influence and Impact

Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA) is a Nigerian registered Non-Governmental Organization
and Business Development Service Provider founded by Her Excellency Aisha Babangida.
We support women entrepreneurs by providing access to training, opportunities, networks, and
structured growth support

Our STORY

WenA was formally incorporated in March 2019 under the Corporate Affairs Commission. Since inception, WenA has focused on entrepreneurship development, SME growth, and economic inclusion through partnerships and capacity-building initiatives aligned with global development priorities.

Facts

Our History

Women Enterprise Alliance was formally incorporated in March 2019 as a Non-Governmental Organization under the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission.

We were founded by Her Excellency, Aisha Babangida a humanitarian and visionary leader committed to fostering sustainable entrepreneurship. Her Excellency remains an advocate for women’s empowerment, working to increase women’s rights and provide them with the support and resources they need to become world-class entrepreneurs.

WenA leverages the robust entrepreneurial spirit within the community by offering enterprise development support. Our goal is to empower entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary resources to fully explore their innovative potential.

The sustainability model of WenA is propelled by funding and technical support from our partners. Our strength lies in collaborating with partners who align with our mission of empowering SMEs and driving meaningful change within the entrepreneurial landscape.

Our Foundation

Vision, Mission & Core Values

Vision
To be a leading platform for women entrepreneurship development in Africa.

Mission
To empower women entrepreneurs with tools, access, and networks to build scalable businesses.

Our Core Values

Loyalty

Through shared loyalty, WenA works in collaboration with various stakeholders from the private sector, donors, government SME agencies, international Organisations.

Open-minded

We continuously prepare to evaluate the possibilities of alternative solutions, as well as listen to and communicate with our stakeholders.

Value

We make deliberate efforts to execute programs that deliver social and sustainable impact. The value we deliver is provided in a spirit of mutual trust, honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Efficient

Our programs are high-quality, effective, and efficient in nature. They are results-oriented, achieving both development effectiveness and desired outcomes.

WHAT MAKES WENA DIFFERENT

Ecosystem Approach

Access to Opportunities

Focus on Scale

Visibility and Positioning

WenA's Ecosystem

The WenA Ecosystem consists of 4,500+ businesses across the 36 states of the federation

The WenA Ecosystem consists of 4,500+ businesses across the Nigerian states. These businesses are primarily in the agriculture, ICT, and creative industries sector. In collaboration with our technical and professional partners, we enhance the development of high-quality businesses to ensure the long-term impact.

WenA's FOCUS

WenA, through its comprehensive ecosystem, actively supports entrepreneurs in three major sectors: Agriculture, Information Technology (IT), and the Creative sector. These sectors collectively encompass 4,500+ businesses spread across all 36 states of the federation.

Agriculture

WenA recognizes the pivotal role of agriculture in economic development. The organization collaborates with agricultural businesses, providing them with professional assistance to scale up their operations. The focus extends to enhancing productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and ensuring the overall growth of the agricultural sector.

Technology

WenA acknowledges the transformative power of technology and supports entrepreneurs in the IT sector. Through strategic partnerships and business development services, WenA nurtures IT businesses, fostering innovation, and helping them build quality products and services. The goal is to contribute to the tech sector and its positive impact on the economy.

Creative

The creative sector is a key area of focus for WenA, recognizing its potential to drive cultural expression, economic growth, and job creation. WenA collaborates with creative businesses, including those in arts, media, and entertainment, offering tailored support to help them thrive. This support spans from business development services to fostering creativity and ensuring the sustainability of impactful products and services.

Message from our Founder

HE Aisha Babangida

Founder & President, WenA

3rd WenA Conference on SME Scalability and Intra-regional Trade

“Leadership is more than skills — it is the courage to create meaningful impact.”

“WenA is committed to fostering a supportive ecosystem for SMEs and social enterprises through capacity-building initiatives, in expanding prospects for Intra-regional trade, conduct advocacy and awareness-raising on gender inclusivity and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) issues, while Strengthening women’s intra- trade associations and networks”.

OUR INSTITUTIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Our Approach to Leadership Development

Leadership is cultivated before it is displayed — We emphasize disciplined preparation, internal growth, and structured development before public influence.
Professional competence must match character — Technical skill and strategic capacity must be anchored in integrity, responsibility, and ethical judgment.
Development must combine theory and practice — Learning is reinforced through presentations, applied projects, and real-world engagement.
Institutions shape nations — Sustainable transformation occurs when capable leaders strengthen the systems and institutions that drive national progress.

INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP

Governance & Strategic Direction

As an accredited non-governmental institution in Your Country, the WENA Institute of Professional Excellence operates under a structured governance framework that ensures strategic direction, accountability, and academic excellence.

Founder and President — Provides overall vision and long-term strategic leadership, guiding institutional growth, partnerships, and mission alignment.
Executive Leadership Team — Manages operations, program delivery, finance oversight, and administrative coordination to ensure effective institutional performance.
Academic Leadership — Oversees curriculum standards, faculty quality, and program integrity to maintain structured professional development excellence.
Institutions shape nations — Sustainable transformation occurs when capable leaders strengthen the systems and institutions that drive national progress.

Partner with us

Partner with us to help SMEs grow

Meet Our Team

Florence Onwumere

Head of Operations, Programs Manager

Lani Gbogboade

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

Vahyela Teri

Solutions Manager

Samson Yahaya