Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization, has introduced a $100,000 RuralMarket Fund aimed at promoting digital and financial inclusion for rural women entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
The initiative was unveiled at the second edition of the PoliServe Dialogue, held at Kabusa Market in the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking at the event, Tech Herfrica’s Founder, Imade Bibiwei-Osuobeni, said the fund builds on the achievements of the 2023 pilot phase, which achieved a 100 percent repayment rate.
According to her, the RuralMarket Fund is a non-interest revolving fund designed to support business expansion, enhance customer engagement, and boost the financial resilience of rural women. “The pilot programme enabled 70 percent of beneficiaries to scale their businesses and increase revenue,” she revealed.
Bibiwei-Osuobeni emphasized that the initiative reflects Tech Herfrica’s dedication to bridging the gap between policy and implementation, ensuring that rural women are not left behind in Africa’s sustainable development agenda. “The RuralMarket Fund goes beyond financing—it’s a vehicle for empowerment. When rural women gain access to equitable and inclusive funding, they uplift their communities and drive local economic growth,” she stated.
The fund will operate under commercial management principles but will remain interest-free. Beneficiaries will be organized into clusters and provided with financial management training and tailored business support to ensure sustainability and accountability.
This year’s PoliServe Dialogue, which coincided with the 2025 International Day of Rural Women, was themed “Smart Business, Sustained Growth.” The event brought together key stakeholders from the government, private sector, and civil society to explore strategies for inclusive economic growth.
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Panel discussions featured topics including financial inclusion, digital tools for business expansion, mental health, and navigating new tax laws. Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), FCT-Internal Revenue Service, Guaranty Trust Bank, and other development partners were in attendance.
Chairman of PoliServe Dialogue 2.0 and Founder of Hope Raisers Global Foundation, Angonimi David-Imeh, called for more collaboration to sustain the growth of women-led rural enterprises. “With strategic partnerships and smart financing, rural women can move from survival to sustainability. We are not just funding businesses; we are nurturing legacies of resilience,” he said.
The event enjoyed support from several institutions, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, EFInA, GTBank, and FCT-IRS. Other partners included Hope Raisers Global Foundation, Prince 7 Youth Development Initiative, Rendra Foundation, Holyhill Relief Foundation, Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), and YALI Network Abuja.
Also present were representatives from Dutch and Doyenne, DeeBlissful Bakes, The Confident Woman, Radiant Futures, The Aziza Development Foundation, McDream Concepts, Faslearn, Orbeets Digi-Tech, Lexicon Media, and Laerryblue Media, all reaffirming their commitment to advancing economic empowerment for women across Nigeria.
