Alpher, Union Bank of Nigeria’s women-focused platform, has partnered with Zuri Circle Network (ZCN) to empower 98 female entrepreneurs through the Fearless Female Founders (FFF) 2.0 Accelerator Programme.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between women-led businesses and access to capital, business knowledge, mentorship and opportunities for sustainable growth.
The programme attracted 2,810 applications from women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, with 98 founders selected after a rigorous screening process involving business verification and compliance checks.
As part of its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, Union Bank awarded grants to five women-led businesses that emerged winners during the programme’s final pitch presentation.
The Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator was designed to identify, support and strengthen promising women-led businesses through structured capacity building, mentorship, accountability and access to funding opportunities.
Participants underwent a detailed screening process that assessed business registration, operational viability and financial record-keeping, ensuring the selected entrepreneurs showed strong potential for sustainable growth and investment readiness.
The final cohort represented businesses across agriculture, fashion, food production, technology, manufacturing, retail and professional services.
Throughout the programme, participants received practical business development support to strengthen operations, improve financial management, enhance competitiveness and position their businesses for expansion.
Speaking on the partnership, Union Bank’s Head of Retail Banking, Vivian Imoh-Itah, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to achieve greater personal, professional and financial success.
“Through alpher, Union Bank remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women to thrive personally, professionally and financially. Our partnership with Zuri Circle Network on the Fearless Female Founders 2.0 Accelerator reflects our deliberate focus on supporting women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, knowledge and financial access they require to build sustainable businesses,” Imoh-Itah said.
She added that investing in women-owned businesses contributes to economic growth, job creation and greater financial inclusion across Nigeria.
The partnership reinforces Union Bank’s commitment to empowering women through innovative financial solutions, strategic partnerships, capacity-building programmes and improved access to financial services.
