June 20, (THEWILL) – The British government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development in Nigeria, with a particular focus on empowering women-led enterprises in manufacturing and agribusiness.
This pledge was made by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, during the second edition of W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia, a high-level forum for Women in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Nutrition.
The event, hosted at the Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos, was organised by Alitheia Capital in collaboration with Manufacturing Africa, a UK government initiative aimed at attracting foreign direct investment into Africa’s manufacturing sector.
Themed “Scaling Sustainable Manufacturing & Energy Transition for Women-led SMEs in Africa,” the forum convened women entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and clean energy providers to explore how women-led businesses can accelerate Africa’s transition to green industrialisation.
In the face of rising fuel costs and electricity tariffs, participants highlighted the pressing need for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt renewable energy solutions.
Alitheia Capital shared that businesses in its portfolio that switched to clean energy achieved up to 60% savings in energy costs — a testament to the economic and environmental value of sustainable practices.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Baxter noted the UK’s pride in partnering with Alitheia Capital to support women entrepreneurs across Africa.
He stressed that women are central to industrial growth, and the UK is committed to helping them access finance, technical expertise, and business development support.
Baxter, “The W.O.M.A.N forum exemplifies our shared vision for inclusive growth.
“Through strategic investment and private-sector collaboration, we can unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs to drive Africa’s green industrial future.”
Alitheia Capital’s Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tokunboh Ishmael, emphasised that sustainability is no longer a choice, but an economic necessity. She noted that the results seen from green adoption in their portfolio businesses demonstrate that the transition to sustainability is both viable and profitable.
Key industry voices contributed to the discussions, including Yemisi Iranloye (Psaltry), Affiong Williams (ReelFruit), Temilola Adepetun (SKLD), James Fabola (Arnergy Solar), Bukola Badmos (Starsight Energy), and Sarah Ogbewey(Sterling Bank), who shared insights on implementing sustainable practices and accessing green financing.
The event also marked the launch of Nzinga, Alitheia Capital’s new capacity-building platform for SMEs seeking sustainable growth. In addition, Manufacturing Africa unveiled its Green Business Building (GBB) Accelerator, designed to promote eco-friendly manufacturing and green job creation in Nigeria.
The forum concluded with an ESG knowledge session and a showcase of innovative solutions by green energy and manufacturing providers.
Stakeholders collectively called for enhanced access to capital, supportive policy frameworks, and a stronger ecosystem to drive inclusive industrialisation led by women entrepreneurs.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
