Access Bank Cameroon has launched the country’s first Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton, marking a significant step in support of women-led enterprises. The programme, unveiled on 24 November 2025 at the Best Western Hotel in Douala, brings structured training, mentorship opportunities, and access to financial grants to 150 women entrepreneurs across the country.
The initiative forms part of Access Bank’s W Initiative, which has operated across Africa since 2019. Its arrival in Cameroon introduces a new platform designed to help women strengthen their business skills and build sustainable companies. This edition is being delivered in partnership with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF).
Ellis Nzo Asu, Managing Director of Access Bank Cameroon, said:
“African women are not standing at the edges of the economy; they are carrying it. Yet, despite their enormous contribution, access to investment and support remains limited. The W Initiative and Pitch-A-Ton are designed to change that. With structured training, mentorship, and direct access to funding, we are equipping these women to scale their businesses, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to Cameroon’s economic growth. When women rise, Cameroon rises.”
Participants will undergo six IFC Mini-MBA training modules, covering profitability, cash flow, record keeping, working capital, credit management, and investor pitching. The programme also includes seed funding, with 3 million FCFA awarded to the winner, 2 million FCFA to the first runner-up, and 1 million FCFA to the second runner-up.
Charlotte Ndaw Sako, IFC Country Manager for Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, and São Tomé and Príncipe, said:
“This partnership with Access Bank reflects our shared belief that investing in entrepreneurs is investing in Cameroon’s future. IFC is proud to deliver world-class training that empowers women to move from informal to structured businesses, equipping them with financial management and access-to-finance skills. By making enterprises more competitive and investment-ready, we unlock opportunities for job creation, innovation, and inclusive growth for all Cameroonians.”
Bimpe Adebayo, Group Head of W Banking at Access Bank Plc, added:
“The W Initiative has already empowered thousands of women across Africa, offering financial literacy, mentorship, and visibility. By bringing this program to Cameroon, we are extending the same world-class support, tailored to local women entrepreneurs. Our goal is to build a pipeline of confident, bankable women who can transform not only their businesses but also their communities.”
Deputy Managing Director Ugochukwu Irechukwu said the bank remains committed to helping women gain the resources and financial access needed to grow their enterprises.
Sectors represented in the cohort include technology, green initiatives, beauty, fashion, and agriculture. Eligible businesses were required to have a minimum turnover or capital base of 3 million FCFA. The launch event featured presentations from partners, introductions of the selected entrepreneurs, and a performance by slam poet Blandine Asale.
The bank also used the occasion to introduce the W Initiative in Cameroon, offering specialised financial services and opportunities for women through Access Bank branches in Douala and Yaoundé.
