On the 18th of June 2025 we hosted the second edition of W.O.M.A.N. by Alitheia—A high-level forum for Women in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Nutrition—alongside key partners and stakeholders. Held on June 18, 2025, at the British Residence in Lagos in collaboration with Manufacturing Africa, the event marked a pivotal moment in our shared pursuit of inclusive, sustainable industrial growth across Africa.
This year’s theme, “Scaling Sustainable Manufacturing & Energy Transition for Women-led SMEs in Africa,” reflected the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for bold, actionable solutions that empower women-led enterprises. We were honoured to receive strong support from the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, who reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to inclusive economic development and green transition strategies that centre women as key drivers of Africa’s future.
We convened a dynamic mix of industry leaders, women entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and energy solution providers to explore the pivotal role of women-led businesses in Africa’s sustainable industrial transformation. The discussions addressed the acute pressures SMEs face amid surging fuel prices and electricity tariffs – conditions that have made sustainable energy adoption both an environmental and economic imperative. Insights from Mrs Temilola Adepetun, Managing Director of SKLD, an Alitheia IDF portfolio company revealed that adopting renewable energy can cut operational costs by as much as 60%, underscoring the financial viability of clean energy for scaling women-led businesses.
Participants examined practical pathways for women entrepreneurs to access clean energy solutions, scale sustainable manufacturing practices, and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s green economy.
In his remarks, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter stated:
“We are proud to collaborate with Alitheia Capital on W.O.M.A.N. (Women in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Nutrition) to drive Africa’s green industrial future. We recognise the indispensable role of women in this transition and are committed to expanding access to capital and capability to ensure sustainable growth. This event reflects our shared vision for inclusive and transformative development, and we are committed to supporting this journey through targeted investments and strategic private partnerships.”
Also commenting, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Alitheia Capital, Tokunboh Ishmael said:
“We are no longer just talking about sustainability as a nice-to-have. It’s an economic imperative, especially for women entrepreneurs at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial transformation and through W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia, we’re not only spotlighting solutions—we’re scaling them. In our own portfolio, we’ve seen up to a 60% reduction in energy costs among businesses that have adopted clean energy. This is proof that green transition is not only possible but profitable.”
The event also featured the keynote addresses by Yemisi Iranloye (CEO, Psaltry), represented by Triumpant Ololade Precious (Agric Extension Manager, Psaltry) and panel discussions with industry leaders including, Affiong Williams (CEO, ReelFruit), Temilola Adepetun (Managing Director, SKLD), James Fabola (CFO, Arnergy Solar), Bukola Badmos (Executive Director & CFO, Starsight Energy), and Sarah Ogbewey, (Head, Strategic Partnerships, Renewable Energy & Mobility, Sterling Bank) moderated by Yewande Adewusi, (Chief Operating Principal, Alitheia Capital).
Alitheia Capital also launched Nzinga, its SME capacity-building platform designed to equip entrepreneurs with tools for scaling their businesses sustainably. In parallel, Manufacturing Africa unveiled its Green Business Building (GBB) accelerator, which will drive the growth of green businesses through strategic support on core business problems, leading to the development of an ecosystem for green manufacturing and green jobs in Nigeria.
The day closed with an ESG knowledge session, exhibitions from green energy and manufacturing solution providers, and a resounding call to action: expand access to capital, strengthen ecosystems, and enable policy that supports inclusive green industrialization.