Access Bank Plc has opened applications for the eighth edition of its Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton programme, with 120 women entrepreneurs set to receive intensive business training, mentorship, networking opportunities and financial support as part of the bank’s continued investment in women-owned businesses.
The latest edition of the programme will commence in November 2026 and is being delivered in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Now in its eighth season, Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton has evolved into one of Access Bank’s flagship initiatives for supporting women entrepreneurs across Africa, combining business education with access to finance and opportunities for market visibility.
More than 1,141 women across 10 African countries have completed the first seven editions of the programme, while participants have collectively received grants exceeding $200,000.
For Season 8, selected participants will undergo a three-week intensive curriculum structured as a mini-MBA, covering practical areas including business management, financial management, business sustainability and strategies for building enterprises capable of long-term growth.
The programme is designed to address a challenge that extends beyond access to capital.
For many women entrepreneurs, the ability to secure funding is closely connected to how well their businesses are structured, how effectively they manage finances and whether they can demonstrate the capacity to repay and grow.
Access Bank says the programme therefore focuses on strengthening the foundations of women-owned businesses before and alongside access to finance.
Head of Women Banking at Access Bank, Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, said the programme has continued to grow because of the results recorded by previous participants.
She noted that graduates from earlier editions have gone on to achieve recognition in other business competitions, including the Nigeria MSME Awards, while one alumna secured a $100,000 prize in another entrepreneurship competition.
According to Chizobar Iheme, Group Head, Consumer Banking at Access Bank, financial inclusion must go beyond simply bringing women into the formal banking system.
The bank’s approach is to equip women with the knowledge and capabilities required to build sustainable enterprises and become better positioned for formal financing.
This includes helping entrepreneurs understand financial management, strengthen their business structures and meet the requirements associated with accessing credit.
Season 8 will also introduce additional financial support for participants.
Beyond the top grant, 19 other participants will receive financial support, expanding the number of entrepreneurs who can translate the knowledge gained through the programme into business growth.
The programme reflects Access Bank’s broader “W” Initiative, which was established to promote women’s financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment through a combination of financial and non-financial services.
Over the years, the initiative has expanded beyond traditional banking to include capacity development, mentoring and other interventions aimed at helping women build more sustainable businesses.
For Access Bank, supporting women entrepreneurs is not only an empowerment intervention but also an investment in economic growth.
Women-owned businesses contribute significantly to employment, household incomes, innovation and local economic activity. However, many women entrepreneurs continue to face challenges related to access to capital, business knowledge, networks and markets.
Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton seeks to address several of these gaps simultaneously by giving participants access to training, expert guidance, peer networks and funding opportunities.
The programme also creates a community of women entrepreneurs who can continue to collaborate and learn from one another beyond the formal training period.
Applications for Season 8 are now open, with eligible women entrepreneurs encouraged to apply for the opportunity to strengthen their businesses, expand their networks and position their enterprises for the next stage of growth.
As Access Bank prepares to welcome another cohort, the latest edition reinforces the bank’s commitment to helping women move from entrepreneurship at survival level to building structured, sustainable and investment-ready businesses.
ABOUT WOMENPRENEUR PITCH-A-TON
Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton is an entrepreneurship development initiative under Access Bank’s “W” Initiative. The programme combines business training, mentorship, networking and financial support to help women entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses and improve their capacity for sustainable growth. The initiative has trained more than 1,141 women across 10 African countries through its first seven seasons.
