The women-banking arm of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), SheVentures and Women Enterprise Alliance (WENA) have partnered to offer N5 million business grants to top three women-led small and medium-sized enterprises in its sustainability initiative.

This was announced in a statement, stressing that the initiative was focused on empowering over 150 women entrepreneurs in the country's North Central.

"This marks the beginning of a high-impact collaboration designed to empower over 150 women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across local, state, and regional levels, through access to finance, market opportunities, capacity building, and enterprise development.

"As part of the initiative, the top three SMEs emerging from the regional programs will receive business grants of up to N5 million from selected investors and partners," the statement reads.

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Speaking during the signing ceremony, Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures at FCMB, stressed the importance of the partnership, describing it as a testament of the firm's drive to support women entrepreneurs.

"This partnership reflects our continued commitment to unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs across Nigeria.

"At SheVentures, we believe empowering women economically is one of the fastest ways to drive inclusive growth and community development. Together with WENA, we will ensure that women in the North Central region have the funds, the tools, skills, and exposure needed to thrive," she said.

Florence Onwumere, Head of Organisation and Programs at WENA, expressed readiness to hit the ground running, saying the collaboration would foster growth in the country's economy.

"We are excited to work with SheVentures, a brand that aligns with our mission of uplifting women entrepreneurs. With this collaboration, we are expanding access to critical resources and shaping the next generation of business leaders in underserved regions of Nigeria," she said.