Douala, Cameroon, 24 November 2025: Access Bank Cameroon has officially launched the country’s first-ever Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening Cameroon’s economic landscape. The launch, held at the Best Western Hotel in Douala, marks a historic milestone: for the first time, women-led businesses in Cameroon will access high-impact training, mentorship, and financial grants, setting a new standard for support in the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton is part of Access Bank’s W Initiative, a flagship women’s banking program that has been transforming the lives of female entrepreneurs across Africa since 2019. Now debuting in Cameroon, the program provides participants with the tools, networks, and opportunities to grow sustainable businesses. This year, 150 women entrepreneurs have been selected to benefit from structured capacity-building sessions led by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and supported by the African Guarantee Fund (AGF).
Ellis Nzo Asu, Managing Director of Access Bank Cameroon, said:
“African women are not standing at the edges of the economy; they are carrying it. Yet, despite their enormous contribution, access to investment and support remains limited. The W Initiative and Pitch-A-Ton are designed to change that. With structured training, mentorship, and direct access to funding, we are equipping these women to scale their businesses, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to Cameroon’s economic growth. When women rise, Cameroon rises.”
The program’s first-of-its-kind approach in Cameroon ensures participants gain practical knowledge through six high-impact IFC Mini-MBA modules, covering business profitability, cash flow control, record keeping, working capital strategies, credit management, and pitching to investors. Beyond training, the program provides direct access to seed funding, with the winner receiving 3 million FCFA, the first runner-up 2 million FCFA, and the second runner-up 1 million FCFA.
Charlotte Ndaw Sako, IFC Country Manager for Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, and São Tomé and Príncipe, highlighted IFC’s role:
“This partnership with Access Bank reflects our shared belief that investing in entrepreneurs is investing in Cameroon’s future. IFC is proud to deliver world-class training that empowers women to move from informal to structured businesses, equipping them with financial management and access-to-finance skills. By making enterprises more competitive and investment-ready, we unlock opportunities for job creation, innovation, and inclusive growth for all Cameroonians.”
Bimpe Adebayo, Group Head of W Banking at Access Bank Plc, added:
“The W Initiative has already empowered thousands of women across Africa, offering financial literacy, mentorship, and visibility. By bringing this program to Cameroon, we are extending the same world-class support, tailored to local women entrepreneurs. Our goal is to build a pipeline of confident, bankable women who can transform not only their businesses but also their communities.”
Deputy Managing Director, Ugochukwu Irechukwu, emphasized the bank’s ongoing commitment to women’s financial empowerment:
“Access Bank is focused on providing women with the resources, knowledge, and access to finance they need to thrive. The Pitch-A-Ton is more than a competition, it’s a platform that connects women to a broader ecosystem of investors, mentors, and business partners, setting them up for long-term success.”
Through this initiative, Access Bank is addressing systemic barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, including limited access to financing, smaller networks, and reduced visibility. Participants operate across high-impact sectors, including technology, green and sustainable initiatives, beauty and fashion, and agriculture, with minimum annual turnover or capital of 3 million FCFA required for eligibility.
The launch event also featured inspiring moments, including a slam poetry performance by Blandine Asale, introductions of the 150 participants, and presentations from partners and mentors, giving media and stakeholders a firsthand view of the transformative journey beginning in Cameroon.
Alongside the Pitch-A-Ton, Access Bank officially unveiled the W Initiative in Cameroon, offering women dedicated banking products, capacity-building opportunities, and exclusive benefits designed to support their financial growth and entrepreneurial ambitions. Women interested in accessing these services are encouraged to visit any Access Bank branch in Douala or Yaoundé.
About Access Bank Cameroon Plc
Access Bank Cameroon Plc is a full-service commercial bank focused on wholesale, retail, digital, and proximity banking. Licensed on February 3rd, 2022, and officially launched on May 23rd, 2022, from its flagship office in Akwa, Douala, the Bank is proud to contribute to the economic narrative of Cameroon a strategic hub for business in Central Africa.
With a strong focus on SMEs, women-led businesses, and youth innovation, the Bank supports capacity building in creativity, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Its financial inclusion strategy offers customized support for individuals and enterprises of all sizes, including access to finance, mentoring, business development programs, market support, and trade promotion.
Access Bank Cameroon currently serves over 18,000 corporate, retail, and business customers and operates five branches across Douala and Yaoundé:
• Akwa
• Bonamoussadi
• Bonaberi
• Marché Central
• Intendance
Access Bank Cameroon Plc is a proud subsidiary of Access Bank Group, a leading full-service commercial bank operating across 3 continents, 24 countries, and serving over 52 million customers. The Group has subsidiaries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom, with a branch in Dubai (UAE), France, representative offices in China, Lebanon, India and Hongkong.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About African Guarantee Fund (AGF)
AGF provides guarantees and financial support to strengthen SMEs across Africa, promoting investment and economic growth. Its partnership with Access Bank underscores its commitment to women-led enterprises and sustainable development across the continent.
