Firms renew pact to drive women empowerment

AXA Mansard Insurance Plc has announced the renewal of its strategic partnership with the fintech platform. Herconomy, signalling a deepened commitment to fostering financial inclusion and accelerating economic growth for women across Nigeria.

The collaboration will see the leading insurer headline the Enterprise Challenge at the upcoming Herconomy Conference 2026. The initiative is designed to provide high-potential, women-led businesses with the critical funding, visibility, and mentorship required to scale in an increasingly competitive economic landscape.

The Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, emphasised during the partnership announcement that the initiative is a cornerstone of the company’s broader social impact goals.

She said, “Empowering women financially remains critical to inclusive and sustainable development. Creating opportunities for women to access financial knowledge and resources can unlock broader economic potential.”

The 2026 conference is expected to draw over 1,000 female professionals and entrepreneurs, building on a community that has grown to over 15,000 members. This year’s focus remains on wealth creation and the practical tools necessary for long-term financial resilience.

Surakat noted that the synergy between the two organisations is built on a shared vision of providing women with the autonomy to manage their financial futures.

“This partnership aligns with ongoing conversations around wealth creation, financial protection, and long-term security. Through our ‘AXA She Is In Charge’ initiative, we are providing women with access to expert-led sessions and professional networks aimed at supporting personal and financial growth,” she added.

The Enterprise Challenge has already proven to be a life-changing platform for Nigerian entrepreneurs. During the 2025 edition, Opeyemi Adebisi, founder of Pemnia Wellness, secured the top prize of N1.5m, while Bilqis Idaro (Posh Meals) and Chimdiebube Orji (Springsentia) received N1m and N500,000, respectively.

Highlighting the importance of such competitive funding, the AXA Mansard executive reiterated the company’s advocacy for gender-inclusive financial services. “AXA Mansard will continue to advocate inclusive financial solutions that enable women to build resilient businesses and secure their financial futures,” Surakat noted.

With the 2026 edition, both AXA Mansard and Herconomy aim to expand the reach of the Enterprise Challenge, ensuring that more women-led startups can transition from local ventures to sustainable, market-leading enterprises.