As Nigeria faces soaring energy costs and the urgent challenges of climate change, the British government has restated its commitment to driving inclusive economic growth and supporting sustainable industrialisation across the country, with women-led businesses at the forefront of the transition.

Speaking at the second edition of W.O.M.A.N. by Alitheia, held in Lagos, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, underscored the UK’s support for transformative partnerships that enable women entrepreneurs to scale solutions in manufacturing, agribusiness, and nutrition.

The forum, organised by Alitheia Capital in partnership with the UK Government’s Manufacturing Africa programme, convened key stakeholders to explore the role of women-led SMEs in Africa’s green industrial future.

Themed, ‘Scaling Sustainable Manufacturing and Energy Transition for Women-led SMEs in Africa’, the event brought together a diverse audience of industry leaders, women entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and energy innovators, tackling the dual challenges of high operating costs and the push for a sustainable energy shift. With fuel prices and electricity tariffs steadily rising, discussions highlighted the critical need for clean energy adoption, both as an environmental imperative and a path to financial sustainability.

According to insights shared by Alitheia Capital, some businesses within its investment portfolio have achieved up to a 60 per cent reduction in operational costs through the integration of renewable energy solutions. This, the firm noted, provides strong evidence that sustainability not only protects the planet but also boosts profitability for women-led enterprises.

In his remarks, Baxter said: “We are proud to collaborate with Alitheia Capital on W.O.M.A.N. to drive Africa’s green industrial future. We recognise the indispensable role of women in this transition and are committed to expanding access to capital and capability to ensure sustainable growth. This event reflects our shared vision for inclusive and transformative development, and we are committed to supporting this journey through targeted investments and strategic private partnerships.”

Co-founder and Managing Partner at Alitheia Capital, Tokunboh Ishmael, described sustainability as an economic necessity, not just a development goal. “We are no longer just talking about sustainability as a nice-to-have. It’s an economic imperative, especially for women entrepreneurs at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial transformation. Through W.O.M.A.N. by Alitheia, we are not only spotlighting solutions, we are scaling them,” she said.

The forum featured keynote speeches and panel sessions with business leaders, including Yemisi Iranloye of Psaltry, Affiong Williams of ReelFruit, Temilola Adepetun of SKLD, James Fabola of Arnergy Solar, Bukola Badmos of Starsight Energy, and Sarah Ogbewey of Sterling Bank, who provided insights into strategies for energy efficiency, access to finance, and the long-term viability of green investments.

In line with its commitment to ecosystem strengthening, Alitheia Capital also unveiled Nzinga, a capacity-building platform aimed at equipping entrepreneurs with tools to sustainably grow their businesses. Complementing this, Manufacturing Africa launched its Green Business Building (GBB) accelerator, designed to help businesses overcome core operational challenges and promote the development of green manufacturing and job creation in Nigeria.