The Business NG - October 24, 2025

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Editorial Focus — Business NG



Nigeria’s informal economy remains the heartbeat of everyday enterprise, yet the latest Moniepoint–IFC Informal Economy Report 2025 exposes a troubling gender gap that threatens inclusive growth. With 41 percent of women-owned informal businesses earning below ₦10,000 in daily profit—compared to 34 percent of male counterparts—the report underscores how inflation, weak access to credit, and social barriers continue to suppress women’s earning potential.

That female participation has dropped from 37 to 35 percent within a year should worry policymakers. Women dominate sectors like petty trade and services but face the steepest cost pressures and least institutional support. Only one in four of their enterprises survives beyond five years—a stark reflection of systemic neglect.

Bridging this divide requires more than financial inclusion slogans. It demands practical interventions—affordable financing, digital onboarding, infrastructure for micro-retailers, and safety nets that protect female entrepreneurs from economic shocks. Empowering women in the informal sector isn’t charity; it is sound economics. A fair, gender-responsive policy framework could unlock billions in productivity and push Nigeria closer to its long-promised inclusive prosperity.