By Agbo Christian Obiora
LAGOS, Nigeria – June 18, 2025 — In a powerful show of commitment to Africa’s green future and inclusive economic development, the British Government has once again thrown its weight behind initiatives empowering women entrepreneurs, particularly in the face of today’s rising energy costs and deepening climate challenges.
At the second edition of W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia—a high-level platform convening Women in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Nutrition—Mr. Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, emphasized the UK’s steadfast dedication to supporting women-led enterprises and sustainable industrialization across the continent.
Held at the Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos, the event—jointly hosted by Alitheia Capital, a pioneering gender-lens impact investing firm, and Manufacturing Africa, a UK government initiative—attracted a diverse and powerful lineup of industry leaders, policymakers, investors, energy experts, and entrepreneurs from across Nigeria and beyond.
Championing Women, Catalyzing Green Growth
With the theme “Scaling Sustainable Manufacturing & Energy Transition for Women-led SMEs in Africa,” this year’s forum took a bold step forward from conversations to action—presenting practical strategies to integrate women-led businesses into Africa’s green transition while tackling the real challenges they face.
Mr. Baxter, while addressing participants, remarked:
“We are proud to collaborate with Alitheia Capital on W.O.M.A.N. to drive Africa’s green industrial future. We recognise the indispensable role of women in this transition and are committed to expanding access to capital and capability to ensure sustainable growth. This event reflects our shared vision for inclusive and transformative development.”
His message was clear: empowering women is not only an ethical imperative—it is an economic strategy essential to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s manufacturing and energy sectors.
Green Transition: Not Just Possible—Profitable
Discussions during the forum honed in on the dual challenge facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs): the pressing need to reduce operational costs while transitioning to sustainable practices in a continent grappling with climate change.
Data from Alitheia’s investment portfolio provided hard proof that sustainable energy adoption is not just good for the planet—it makes business sense. Women-led enterprises that transitioned to clean energy recorded up to 60% reduction in energy costs.
Tokunboh Ishmael, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, emphasized:
“We are no longer just talking about sustainability as a nice-to-have. It’s an economic imperative—especially for women entrepreneurs at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial transformation. Through W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia, we’re not just spotlighting solutions—we’re scaling them.”
Her statement set the tone for a series of engaging discussions and breakthrough insights that echoed across panels and breakout sessions.
High-Profile Panelists Share Pathways to Green Success
Some of the most inspiring voices of the day came from women who are already breaking ground in agribusiness and manufacturing with bold, clean-energy innovations. The forum featured a stellar lineup of industry leaders including:
- Yemisi Iranloye, CEO of Psaltry International Company Ltd, a cassava-based agro-processing firm;
- Affiong Williams, CEO of ReelFruit, Nigeria’s leading dried fruit snacks company;
- Temilola Adepetun, Managing Director of SKLD;
- James Fabola, CFO of Arnergy Solar;
- Bukola Badmos, Executive Director & CFO of Starsight Energy; and
- Sarah Ogbewey, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Renewable Energy & Mobility at Sterling Bank.
Their shared experiences underscored the need for accessible financing, enabling policy environments, and ecosystem support to allow female-led businesses to fully participate in—and lead—the continent’s green economy.
Launching the Future: Nzinga and Green Business Building
Beyond the engaging discussions, the event also marked a milestone in Alitheia Capital’s journey to deepen support for women-led SMEs with the launch of Nzinga—a new capacity-building platform named after the legendary African queen known for leadership and resilience.
Nzinga is designed to equip female entrepreneurs with practical tools, strategic insight, and business support to scale sustainably in competitive markets. Simultaneously, Manufacturing Africa launched its Green Business Building (GBB) Accelerator, which will provide targeted technical assistance to green-focused SMEs. The GBB Accelerator aims to build an interconnected ecosystem for green manufacturing, policy innovation, and job creation in Nigeria.
UK’s Vision: Private Capital Meets Policy Support
The UK’s role in Africa’s development has increasingly shifted toward catalytic partnerships—leveraging private capital to drive public-good outcomes. Through initiatives like Manufacturing Africa and its collaboration with impact firms like Alitheia Capital, the UK government is fostering inclusive growth by empowering female founders, boosting job creation, and promoting clean energy across strategic sectors.
Mr. Baxter noted:
“Our goal is to unlock potential by connecting capital, capability, and policy. We believe that Africa’s future is green, inclusive, and led by its women.”
ESG Knowledge Exchange and a Call to Action
The forum wrapped up with an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) knowledge session that offered practical steps for SMEs to embed sustainability into their core business models. Exhibitions from green energy innovators and clean manufacturing solution providers dotted the venue, providing hands-on insights into scalable solutions for energy efficiency and resilience.
Participants left the event with a unified resolve: Expand access to capital. Build resilient business ecosystems. Enable inclusive policies. Drive women-led green industrialization.
Final Word
The 2025 edition of W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia was not just another forum—it was a rallying cry for a more sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant Africa. The collaboration between the UK government, Alitheia Capital, and local industry champions sets the stage for a future where gender equity and green growth are not separate agendas—but two sides of the same coin.
As the world grapples with energy transitions and climate imperatives, Nigeria’s women entrepreneurs—supported by visionary partnerships—are proving that the future of industry can be clean, inclusive, and profitable.
#WOMANbyAlitheia #InclusiveGreenGrowth #UKinNigeria #WomenInManufacturing #AfricaGreenTransition
