A new gender inclusion report unveiled at the 4th Gender Impact Investment Summit in Lagos has revealed that women, youths and persons with disabilities (PWDs) continue to face major barriers in accessing formal credit and investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The report, released by the Impact Investors Foundation, showed that although women own nearly 40 per cent of businesses in the country, they still receive a disproportionately small share of formal financing. The study described the situation as a reflection of wider structural and institutional barriers affecting inclusive economic participation.
According to the foundation, the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Baseline Report is the first comprehensive study of its kind within Nigeria’s impact investment ecosystem and is expected to serve as a benchmark for tracking progress in inclusive financing and economic policies.
The summit, themed “From Commitment to Action: Strengthening Inclusive Gender Lens Investment for Nigeria’s Growth,” brought together policymakers, investors, development partners and advocacy groups to discuss strategies for improving access to capital for underserved groups.
Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Impact Investors Foundation, Etemore Glover, said the report provides critical data needed to identify financing gaps and strengthen accountability in the financial system.
She noted that while women contribute significantly to Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape, many still struggle to access formal loans and investment support needed to scale their businesses.
Glover added that the summit was designed to move beyond policy discussions by delivering measurable outcomes for women, youths and the over 35 million Nigerians living with disabilities.
Also speaking, Ibukun Awosika emphasised the need to embed gender equality and social inclusion principles into investment decisions and national economic policies.
According to her, inclusive capital remains essential to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and ensuring that growth benefits all segments of society.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Turning Gender Equity into Economic Advantage,” Muhammadu Sanusi II called for deliberate efforts to dismantle barriers limiting women’s financial inclusion, stressing that gender equality is not only a social issue but also an economic necessity.
To support immediate economic impact, the summit introduced enhanced Deal Rooms operating both physically and virtually to connect investors with women-led enterprises ready for expansion. Organisers disclosed that the initiative secured soft investment commitments estimated at about 250,000 dollars.
The summit also featured technical sessions focused on strengthening institutional capacity through GESI diagnostic tools, investment readiness frameworks and data systems aimed at mainstreaming gender lens investing across organisations.
The Impact Investors Foundation said the summit seeks to promote accountability by encouraging institutions to track not only capital mobilisation, but also enterprise growth, job creation and measurable inclusion outcomes.
The foundation is a nonprofit organisation promoting impact investing in Nigeria and has led initiatives such as the establishment of the Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, which secured government backing for the one billion dollar Nigerian Wholesale Impact Investment Fund aimed at supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
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