The vibrancy of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit was on full display at the Garki International Market in Abuja during a special edition of DW The 77 Percent Street debate, a collaboration between DW and Trust TV. Co-Hosts Abdullahi Ahmad and Edith Kimani guided a passionate discussion centered on a critical question: What forces are truly holding Nigerian women entrepreneurs back from achieving their full potential? The conversation, set against the backdrop of a booming informal economy, revealed that the barriers are not merely financial or infrastructural, but deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and systemic "gatekeeping" by men.
Nigerian women are undoubtedly the backbone of the micro-economy, with over 23 million women operating micro businesses and accounting for nearly 41% of small enterprises. Dr. Dindo, an economist on the panel, quantified the immense stakes, noting that women control 30 to 40% of the total business environment. Globally, when women are given entrepreneurial opportunities, it has the capacity to improve GDP by $12 trillion. In Sub-Saharan Africa, closing the $42 billion financing gap women face could cause the region's GDP to shoot up by more than 20%.
However, this staggering potential remains largely untapped due to significant obstacles. Edith Kimani highlighted that while women own nearly 40% of small, medium, and micro businesses, the conversation must pivot to their participation in big business. Entrepreneur Umita stated plainly that women struggle to penetrate the industry because “men have already monopolized the whole system” and actively “gatekeep”. The financial struggle is severe: only 6 to 10% of Nigerian women are able to secure formal bank loans because they lack the land or property banks typically demand as collateral, making it nearly impossible to scale up. Worse, women seeking funding or contracts often face explicit demands for sexual favors, while men might only be asked for a 20% cut.
Related article - Uphorial Shopify
The most profound constraint, particularly in the northern regions, appears to be socio-cultural. Zab, a successful businesswoman, observed that women in the North are significantly held back by religious and cultural aspects. This pressure is so intense that successful women admit to actively employing strategies to "dim their light" so as not to threaten their spouse or partner. Zab recounted receiving advice from her mother-in-law: “Don’t ever show your mother your success,” lest the husband feel undermined. This was compounded by the view of one participant, Owl, who insisted that, based on his religious interpretation, a woman’s primary role is to be the “protector of the house” while the husband provides.
However, this religious justification was strongly challenged. Zab countered that religion does not limit women, pointing out that the Prophet’s wife was a known businesswoman and another historical figure, Nana Aisha, opened a university. Furthermore, Fatima, a Muslim carpenter in a male-dominated field, agreed that women are often restricted not by their own lack of desire but because their husbands “feel insecure” with their wives being exposed to other men or fear being looked down upon for being “unable to cater for the wife”.
Despite the magnitude of the issues, which Abdullahi Ahmad noted might mean the “scale of the problem is simply greater than the scale of the solution,” the debate concluded with actionable strategies. Dr. Dindo affirmed that policy support is key and achievable, referencing success stories in Ghana and Tanzania. Solutions include targeted financing for vulnerable women groups, improving literacy and technological education, and most importantly, establishing mentorship and role models. Abdullahi Ahmad summarized the consensus: if Nigeria unlocks the economic potential of its women, the economy will look “much different, much better”. The conversation underscored that for Nigeria to tap into its $12 trillion potential, the cultural gatekeeping must end, and the system must embrace the idea of women not just being supported but fully empowered to dominate and succeed in every sector. The struggle for female entrepreneurs is the nation's own struggle for prosperity.
