The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has announced plans to provide 50 free exhibition booths to women entrepreneurs to help them promote their businesses during the 2026 International Women’s Day celebrations.
The initiative is part of activities lined up by the chamber to mark the global event celebrated annually on March 8 to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a news conference, explaining that the exhibition booths will give women business owners the opportunity to showcase their products and services to a wider audience.
According to him, the move is designed to support women-led enterprises by creating market visibility and connecting them with potential customers and business partners.
“The initiative underscores the chamber’s unwavering commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment and fostering inclusive growth in Nigeria,” Obegolu said.
He explained that the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration organised by the chamber will be guided by the theme “Give To Gain”, which focuses on investing in women through better access to finance, mentorship, market opportunities and supportive policies.
Obegolu noted that empowering women entrepreneurs plays a critical role in national economic development.
“Empowering women entrepreneurs strengthens businesses, stabilises families and drives national prosperity,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged that many women entrepreneurs still face challenges that limit their full participation in the economy.
According to him, barriers such as limited access to affordable financing, regulatory bottlenecks and socio-cultural factors continue to restrict women from achieving their full potential in business and economic decision-making.
The ACCI President said the free exhibition booths would form part of a broader programme organised to celebrate International Women’s Day.
He disclosed that the chamber would also organise a two-day Women Entrepreneurs Workshop and a Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) exhibition aimed at building capacity and expanding opportunities for women in business.
“These activities will feature panel discussions focused on sustainable financing and protection from predatory lending,” he said.
“Also, a social media marketing master-class designed to equip participants with practical digital skills.”
According to Obegolu, the exhibition component of the programme will serve as a strategic platform for women entrepreneurs to promote their products while expanding their professional networks.
“The business exhibition will provide women entrepreneurs with a strategic platform to showcase their products and services, connect with potential customers, and expand their professional networks,” he explained.
ACCI Vice President for Women and Gender Matters, Mrs Lawunmi Ismail, said the initiative was intentionally designed to strengthen women’s participation in business and economic development.
She stressed that empowering women entrepreneurs has a direct impact on economic growth.
“When women succeed in business, families prosper, communities grow stronger and the broader economy benefits,” Ismail said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the ACCI, Mr Agabaidu Jideani, described the free exhibition booths as a practical step toward supporting women-led businesses.
According to him, sustainable economic growth can only be achieved when women are positioned at the centre of enterprise development.
“The free exhibition booths is a practical demonstration of the ACCI’s strategic commitment to women-led businesses,” he said.
Jideani also called on stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to support efforts aimed at removing barriers that hinder women entrepreneurs.
