The Group Managing Director of MOJEC Group, Chantelle Abdul, has moved to tackle poverty among women with the launch of the Women Empowerment Fund, a women-focused economic empowerment initiative unveiled in Lagos.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Head of Corporate Communications at Mojec International, Chris Olisa, the launch brought together women largely drawn from Nigeria’s informal sector for capacity-building sessions and access to practical business support aimed at strengthening their livelihoods and improving income generation.
As part of the empowerment drive, 120 women reportedly received a combination of equipment and financial assistance through the fund. The support included “55 grinding machines, 23 industrial sewing machines and 63 hair dryers, alongside cash grants amounting to up to N12m.”
Olisa said the initiative was designed to help women entrepreneurs transition from subsistence-level ventures to sustainable and scalable businesses, addressing long-standing barriers such as limited access to capital, tools and mentorship.
Speaking at the launch, Abdul, who is also the founder and convener of the Women Empowerment Fund, said the initiative was created to confront the persistent gender gap in access to economic opportunities faced by women across sub-Saharan Africa.
She noted that WEF began as a dream and has now become a living reality, encouraging women to continue dreaming boldly and never diminishing their identity or potential.
“This fund is built on impact. It is about giving women the tools, confidence, and support they need to scale their businesses and create lasting value within their communities. When women are empowered, families thrive and economies grow,” Abdul said.
She added that women remain central to societal development, stressing that poverty reduction efforts would be incomplete without deliberate investment in women’s economic empowerment. According to her, “Women are the fibre of every society.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ayomide Oluwasade, was quoted as saying that the financial support would significantly improve her business operations, noting that access to capital had been a major challenge prior to the intervention.
The event also featured a panel session with key stakeholders, including the Chairman of MOJEC Group, Mrs Mojisola Abdul; Mrs Omowunmi Akingbohungbe of WINBIZ; Chantelle Abdul; and the Head of Gender and Development at the Bank of Industry, Mrs Adebisi Ajayi. The panel discussed issues bordering on women’s economic inclusion, access to finance and strategies for building sustainable enterprises.
“The Women Empowerment Fund is a national initiative committed to transforming the economic lives of women, particularly those in Nigeria’s informal sector, by providing access to tools, training, mentorship, and opportunities for sustainable growth,” the statement concluded.
