Wema Bank has announced its continued collaboration with the SheCan Conference, marking its fifth year of partnership with the initiative focused on equipping Nigerian women for greater impact. This year’s edition, SheCan 6.0, is set to take place on Friday, 18 July 2025, at Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, with more than 7,000 women expected to attend under the theme, “SheCan Do More.”
As part of this year’s engagement, the bank, through its women-centred platform, SARA by Wema, has committed ₦2 million in business grants to women entrepreneurs within the SARA Community. The grant is targeted at small and medium-scale businesses and is aimed at helping them expand and strengthen their operations.
Ayodele Olojede, Head of Retail and SME Banking at Wema Bank, said, “Wema Bank is committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing the financial backing, tools, training, and networks they need to scale sustainably. Year after year, we’ve seen the incredible ripple effect that access, and opportunity can create in the lives of women and their communities. Through SARA by Wema, our goal is to create an environment where Nigerian women can dream bigger, build stronger, and lead the economy with confidence. This partnership with SheCan is a statement of belief in the power of women to transform society.”
“This year’s partnership represents more than sponsorship; it is a tangible investment in helping Nigerian women build sustainable businesses, scale their impact, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth. Eligible applicants must be women-led businesses with active Wema Bank accounts and must be registered members of the SARA Community. Interested participants are required to submit a written pitch of no more than two pages, detailing their business and founder story, the problem being solved, target audience and competitive advantage, proposed use of the grant, and the expected outcomes and community impact. Entries must also include the applicant’s Wema Bank account number, full name, and the email address used to join the SARA Community. Submissions should be emailed to sarabywema@wemabank.com with the subject line: SARA SHECAN Grant Pitch – [Your Business Name] between July 8 and July 11, 2025.” She concluded.
SARA by Wema is the bank’s dedicated women’s proposition, developed to offer financial services, business support, personal development tools, and wellness solutions tailored to women at different stages of their personal and professional lives.
Since the beginning of the SheCan Conference, Wema Bank has consistently played a strategic role in supporting its mission to empower women with the resources and skills needed to succeed. Over the years, the bank has gone beyond the flagship conference by investing in mentorship programmes, vocational initiatives, and charity fairs, all of which have impacted thousands of women across Nigeria.
Now in its sixth edition, the SheCan Conference has become a leading platform in the country for personal development, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, with more than 26,000 women empowered since inception. This year’s conference will feature three major panel sessions focused on business and career advancement, self-discovery, and achieving harmony in family life, highlighting the diverse strengths of today’s Nigerian women.
Through its enduring partnership with SheCan and continued investment in the SARA by Wema community, Wema Bank reaffirms its commitment to ensuring women have the tools and support they need to lead, innovate, and drive transformation within their communities and beyond.
