For many women entrepreneurs, the biggest obstacle to growing a business is not a lack of talent or customers. It is the high cost of essential equipment. A new financing initiative hopes to change that by making productive assets more accessible to women owned businesses.
Happy Woman Solutions Limited, in partnership with Mayden Microfinance Bank, has launched the Happy Woman Match Fund, a financing scheme designed to help women entrepreneurs acquire business equipment through a simple cost sharing model.
Under the initiative, participants are required to save only half the cost of the equipment they need, while Mayden Microfinance Bank provides the remaining half. The goal is to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial ambition and the tools needed to turn that ambition into sustainable growth.
According to the organizations behind the programme, the Match Fund addresses one of the most persistent challenges facing women owned businesses, which is limited access to productive assets. By reducing the financial burden of purchasing equipment, the initiative aims to remove a major barrier to business expansion and long term success.
The programme supports entrepreneurs across a wide range of industries. Eligible equipment includes sewing machines, bakery equipment, salon tools, catering supplies, freezers, printers, and other essential business assets, reflecting the diversity of women led enterprises.
For its first phase, the initiative is open exclusively to members of the Happy Woman community in Lagos and Abuja, although organisers say there are plans to expand the programme to reach more women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. Applications for the first batch of beneficiaries are now open.
Speaking on the launch, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Woman Solutions, Kunle Erinle, described the initiative as an important milestone in the organization’s mission to empower women economically.
“Economic empowerment begins with creating access to opportunities that enable women to build sustainable businesses. Through the Happy Woman Match Fund, we are providing a practical pathway for women entrepreneurs to acquire the productive assets they need today while cultivating healthy financial habits that will strengthen their businesses for the future,” he said.
Erinle noted that many women entrepreneurs already possess the skills, experience, and customer base needed to succeed. What often limits their growth, he explained, is the inability to afford equipment that would allow them to increase production, improve efficiency, and compete more effectively.
Founder and Managing Director of Mayden Microfinance Bank, Foluke Alakija, described the partnership as part of the bank’s continued commitment to advancing financial inclusion, particularly for entrepreneurs who are often underserved by traditional financing systems.
“We remain committed to advancing financial inclusion by supporting innovative financing solutions that expand access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women led businesses,” she said.
Alakija added that improving access to finance for women entrepreneurs is essential for stimulating entrepreneurship, creating jobs, and building a stronger and more inclusive economy.
Beyond helping women acquire equipment, the organizers say the Happy Woman Match Fund is designed to promote long term financial independence. By supporting women owned businesses to grow, create employment, and become more sustainable, the initiative seeks to strengthen not only individual enterprises but also the communities they serve.
At its heart, the programme reflects a simple but powerful belief. When women have access to the right tools, they are better equipped to grow thriving businesses, create opportunities for others, and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
By Umm e Habiba, Pakistan.
