By Joy Onuorah
When Hadiza Isah Mohammed walked into the IgniteHer Bootcamp, she was at a crossroads. She had been on the verge of giving up on her business, convinced that nothing was working.
By the end of the five-day program, her mindset had shifted.
“This is one of the most inspirational bootcamps I’ve ever attended. I was ready to drop my dreams, but now, I’ve been reignited,” she shared.
Hadiza’s story reflects the reality for many women entrepreneurs facing barriers, limited access to funding, and uncertainty about the future of their businesses.
The IgniteHer Bootcamp was designed to change that.
The IgniteHer Bootcamp, a collaboration between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), brought together 90 female entrepreneurs for an intensive program focused on business growth, financial management, and digital transformation.
Rather than offering generic training, the program tackled real challenges women face in business and provided practical solutions that could be implemented immediately.
Participants didn’t just learn theories, they walked away with strategies, digital tools, and a network of mentors to help them scale.
*Practical Solutions, Real Results*
The program tackled key challenges like:
* Closing the gender gap in business and technology
* Providing hands-on training in financial management and sustainability.
• Connecting women to mentors, investors, and growth opportunities.
• Leveraging technology to increase efficiency and visibility
*What Participants Learned*
Day 1: Breaking barriers
Understanding and overcoming funding gaps, societal biases, and business challenges.
Day 2: Business planning & financial literacy
Structuring business plans, break-even analysis, and goal setting.
Day 3: Digital tools & automation
Learning bookkeeping, HR management, content creation, and online security.
Day 4: Digital transformation & AI
Leveraging artificial intelligence for branding, marketing, and customer engagement.
Day 5: Investment readiness
Insights from venture capitalists and business leaders on funding and scaling.
Beyond the Bootcamp
The impact didn’t end with the final session.
Select participants will pitch their businesses at a startup event in Japan, gaining exposure to global investors and partners.
This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on economic growth through digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
*The Future of Women in Business*
IgniteHer is more than a bootcamp, it’s a movement. It proves that when women get the right tools, businesses grow, and economies thrive.
The question now is: What happens when more women get access to these opportunities?
It’s a challenge worth pursuing.
