Participants at the W.O.M.A.N.2026 in Lagos on Monday: PHOTOS: ONOR IKECHUKWU MIKEL
BY ONOR IKECHUKWU MIKEL
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to equipping Women Entrepreneurs with the Tools, capital, and Technological access required to scale their businesses, as the third edition of the W.O.M.A.N. 2026 programme concluded on Friday, with a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption bootcamp delivered by Google Hustle Academy.
The two-day programme, convened by Alitheia Capital and supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, gathered more than 300 screened women-led enterprises operating across Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Food Processing and Nutrition sectors.
The second day of the programme focused on Digital Transformation, with the Google Hustle Academy facilitating an intensive session on the practical application of AI in Business Strategy, Marketing, Finance and Daily operations. Participants explored how AI tools can enhance productivity, improve decision-making and enable Women-led Enterprises to compete more effectively in an increasingly Digital Economy.
Speaking at the close of the programme, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, maintained that access to technology is no longer optional for businesses seeking to scale.
“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 MCCTI Commissioner, who delivered a Goodwill address at the programme, noted that the Ministry’s Partnership with Alitheia Capital reflects a shared conviction that women-led Enterprises must be positioned at the centre of Lagos State’s Economic Transformation Agenda.
“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 .”
Hon. Ambrose-Medebem 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.”
Also speaking at the Event, Tokunbo Ishmael, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, who hosted the programme, explained the rationale behind bringing AI to the forefront of this year’s conversation.
She noted that the growing sophistication of AI-generated content has made Digital Literacy a Business necessity, particularly for Women Entrepreneurs engaging in online Commerce and Investment.
Ishmael also stressed the importance of responsible AI adoption, explaining key concepts such as prompts, tokens, context windows, predictive AI and generative AI in accessible terms for the participants.
“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 implored participants to embrace continuous learning, noting that the traditional career and business models that served previous generations are no longer sufficient.
“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.”
Google Hustle Academy Training Partners, who facilitated the technical session, took participants through the fundamentals of how AI works, its practical applications for small businesses, and the importance of responsible use.
“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 AI bootcamp, delivered as part of W.O.M.A.N. 2026’s commitment to year-round Capacity Building, also introduced participants to practical methods for identifying AI-generated content and verifying digital assets – a skill of growing importance for entrepreneurs engaging in online commerce and investment discussions.
Participants will receive 12 months of continued access to Alitheia Capital’s Nzinga Digital Learning Platform, where they can further develop skills in Financial Management, Investment readiness, Export compliance and Green Manufacturing practices.
