The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to supporting women-led businesses with access to finance, technology and other resources needed to grow, as the third edition of W.O.M.A.N. 2026 ended on Friday.
The two-day programme, organised by Alitheia Capital with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, brought together more than 300 women-led businesses in manufacturing, agribusiness, food processing and nutrition.
The second day focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business, with Google Hustle Academy leading participants through practical ways of using AI for business strategy, marketing, finance and daily operations.
Speaking at the closing of the programme, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives and Trade and Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, said technology had become an important part of growing a business.
“Artificial intelligence is not a luxury for big corporations. It is a practical tool that can help a woman running a food processing business in Ikeja improve her inventory management, reach new customers and reduce her production costs,” the Commissioner said. “The question is not whether AI belongs in your business. The question is whether you are ready to use it!”
The Commissioner said the partnership with Alitheia Capital reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that women-led businesses have access to finance, markets and technology.
“Under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, this Administration is deliberate about creating an ecosystem where Women- led Businesses can access Finance, Markets and Technology,” she added. “Through initiatives like LASMECO and LASERP, and through our Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025–2030, we are building pathways from potential to Productivity .”
She also said, “Lagos has been ranked No. 1 among Nigeria’s 36 states in the 2026 PEBEC Subnational Ease of Doing Business assessment. That matters because entrepreneurs cannot scale on motivation alone.”
Why AI was introduced
Also speaking at the event, Tokunbo Ishmael, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, said the focus on AI was driven by the growing use of the technology in business and online spaces.
She said the rise of AI-generated content has made digital literacy increasingly important for women entrepreneurs, particularly those involved in online commerce and investment.
Ishmael also explained some basic AI concepts, including prompts, tokens, context windows, predictive AI and generative AI, while stressing the need for users to review information generated by AI.
“AI is as accurate as the amount of information it receives,” she said. “So when you use artificial intelligence, always take a step back and review anything it gives you. Don’t take everything it gives you hook, line and sinker.”
She encouraged participants to keep learning and adapting to changes in the business environment.
“The four-year degree that you acquire is not enough to get you the opportunity that your parents had access to at the time,” she said. “You are always chasing something. It is the same thing with AI. The question is whether you will choose to be part of the monitoring or not.”
The Google Hustle Academy Training Partners also took participants through the basics of AI, its application to small businesses and responsible use of the technology.
“My slide is just to guide me, so I am encouraging you to please take notes,” the facilitator said. “The essence of this session is not to make it technical. Everything we say will be tailored to the point where you are in business, in career, or whatever stage you are currently.”
The programme also introduced participants to ways of identifying AI-generated content and verifying digital materials, particularly as more businesses rely on online platforms.
Participants will have 12 months of access to Alitheia Capital’s Nzinga Digital Learning Platform, where they can continue learning in areas including financial management, investment readiness, export compliance and green manufacturing.
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