Layal Jade Tinubu, co-founder of the Noella Foundation and founder of Tots Toys, awarded over ₦70 million in grants to 20 women entrepreneurs during the second edition of the Be Empowered initiative held on April 12, 2025, in Lagos.
The initiative, which attracted over 2,500 applications nationwide, shortlisted 200 entrepreneurs for the summit. Five finalists pitched their businesses live, with nine winners selected at the event and 11 more announced afterward.
Tinubu emphasized the program’s goal to help women-led businesses “start, sustain, and scale.” The recipients underwent a five-week bootcamp covering strategic planning, finance, operations, and scalability.
Notable speakers at the summit included Elizabeth Isiorho of BETH Model Management and Ibiyinka Ibru of Moneystart. Past beneficiaries from the 2024 edition also shared testimonies of business growth driven by the initiative.
Organizers affirmed that Be Empowered goes beyond funding, equipping women with skills and mentorship to build sustainable enterprises.
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