Calabar is currently buzzing with activity as more than 300 female entrepreneurs have converged on the city to compete for crucial business grants at the African Women in Business Expo. This three-day gathering is hosted by the organization She Means Business in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu. As a prominent international network, the organizers represent a massive community of over 20,000 women across twenty countries.
Mary Ekong, a founding member and the organization’s head for Africa, explained that the primary motivation for bringing this event to Cross River State was to decentralize opportunities. She emphasized that talented businesswomen should not feel compelled to relocate to major hubs like Lagos or Abuja to find funding, expert knowledge, or access to international markets. The selection process is rigorous, requiring every applicant to deliver a one-minute pitch to a panel of screeners.
According to Zoyols News, the support packages are diverse, ensuring that more than half of the contestants will walk away with some form of assistance. These incentives range from cash grants between one hundred thousand and five hundred thousand naira to free annual subscriptions for the organization’s proprietary mobile application and entry into a specialized business accelerator program.
The initiative aims to provide much more than just a financial injection. The organizers are focused on bridging the gap for local talent by connecting them with global mentors and potential clients abroad. Ekong envisions a future where an entrepreneur working from home in Calabar can leverage international networks to export her goods and earn in foreign currency, effectively bypassing the need to be physically present in a metropolitan capital.
The philosophy behind the event is that women rarely lack ambition or viable ideas; rather, they often lack the right information and professional guidance. Consequently, the program is built on the pillars of structure, funding, and long-term mentorship. Beyond the initial grants, the event features a series of panel discussions and expert speakers. The stakes are particularly high for one standout participant, who will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the Global Women in Business Conference scheduled for October in Doha, Qatar. Even those who do not secure immediate cash prizes are set to benefit, as every participant will undergo an intensive multi-week accelerator program with further funding opportunities awaiting them at the conclusion of their training.
