Savings and investments have many definitions, many of which are theoretical, more like what professors pontificate from their lecterns. But, how do you make ordinary women, especially low-income-earning women, who do not understand or trust the financial and cooperative systems, save their hard-earned money over a long period of time?
Last Saturday, October 25, in Victoria Island, Lagos, a group of professional women showed how possible this can be and how easily it can be achieved for women with fear and doubts about money and investments.
In two big conference halls packed with over nine thousand women, plus others who joined virtually from across many countries, FinTribe Finance Fair 2025, with the theme ‘Level Up’, supported by Sycamore, served as a platform and a community through which women came together to discuss their financial and business future in a professional and fun way, spiced with camaraderie.
The mission of Fintribe is simple, and the theme of the finance fair was even simpler. The mission and theme were succulently described by the organisers of the fair as: “Building a community of intentional like-minded people, especially women, to create wealth through networking, savings, and investments.”
The founder of FinTribe and convener of the fair, Jennifer Awirigwe, popularly known as Financial Jennifer, addressing the audience, noted that FinTribe started with a collection of women of like minds who came together with one single goal: to do better with our finances, and that little group has become a force, a movement that stretches across over 40 countries.
Speaking with a confident voice and an infectious smile, she revealed that they have trained over 90,000 women in financial literacy, and 15,000 of these women are now saving and investing together as a tribe with a common mission: to enjoy financial freedom.
Awirigwe knows that financial freedom does not just happen or come on a platter of gold. She is also aware that building a mutual fund for thousands of women to save and invest in is not enough. So, addressing the women, letting them know how FinTribe intends to ensure the sustainability of their investments and financial freedom, she said, “We have our own tech platform and our mobile app is coming out soon.”
She admitted that beyond the structures, the technology, the numbers, and how they have collectively invested over $4 million through FinTribe, are personal and humble stories that move the vision and mission of what they do and stand for. Some of these stories she narrated, appreciating their partners and sponsors who have been with them, supporting them along the way, and changing the lives and financial destinies of thousands of women who are impacting their families and communities.
Financial Jennifer noted that while saving and investing money is good, the knowledge and skills necessary to acquire and leverage financial literacy are even more important for women who are interested in taking their financial lives to the next level. To help women navigate the hurdles of acquiring financial knowledge, last year, she founded a school through which she teaches women how to be rich and wealthy.
“Through our Wealth Builder Academy, launched last year, we have trained over 4000 women who are now investing for the first time, with testimonies,” she said.
The Wealth Builder Academy was not enough, Awirigwe added. When it comes to making money, especially helping other people make money, multiple investments in low-risk portfolios is the way forward, she noted, saying, “Earlier this year, we launched our FinTribe Real Estate project — and, through it, over a hundred women have become landowners for the first time.”
Still smiling and addressing the audience, Financial Jennifer, said that given the challenges facing the Nigerian economy and how it affects women and their businesses and their families, now, not tomorrow, is the right time to level up. According to her, levelling up is not just a motivational phrase — it is a movement inspired by not just about learning, but also by taking action, from moving from I wish to I just did.
Before stepping down from the stage, Awirigwe charged women to level up, not later, but now, by learning, connecting, and taking action, adding, “When women have financial power, it is not just about them, it has a ripple effect in families, communities, and nations.”
Next on the stage was Dr Ajoritsedere Awosika, former chairman of Access Bank and founder of Josephine Consulting, who, without mincing words, stressed that the theme of the financial fair was timely and timeless, a call to evolve and become more.
Dr Awosika — who worked as a pharmacist before going into banking and business consulting — said Fintribe is not just a community of women, but also a tribe in Nigeria, a tribe that is combining financial literacy and personal growth to explain how money works in the broader economy.
Urging women to approach investment and money with discipline and purpose, the pharmacist and banker said, “Money is everything. In financial and investment matters, thinking is not enough; action is important. Money, when managed well, gives one options, freedom, and dignity.”
But as a woman in business or who is hoping to invest her money in an economy that takes more than it gives, a country where consumption is prioritised more than saving and production, financial freedom and dignity are seldom attained without training and discipline.
Awosika offered clues on how to achieve financial options, freedom, and dignity, which, according to her, is anchored on being the best version of oneself, which is attainable by asking the answering these hard questions: What must I have to learn anew? What can I unlearn? What can I let go of to get to the next level?
Awosika noted that answering these questions truthfully and taking conscious actions towards leveraging them to better one’s life and finances is a sign of growth and leadership quality. But what then are the dimensions of the leadership needed to save, invest, and manage money in a challenging economy? Awosika answered these questions in short, simple sentences: levelling up intellectually, leveraging emotional intelligence, and espousing the power of financial confidence.
And, to effectively attain this level of discipline and confidence, she recommended training in self-leadership (the art of mastering — for mastering oneself is power, but mastering others is strength), strategic thinking and decision-making, and investing in coaching and mentorship training.
Awosika said that for one to be a good investor, they must believe and trust in themselves and in the financial and corporate system, for according to her, trust is the currency through which life and businesses are built. She further said that Nigeria and Africa have a trust and goodwill economy, which must be encouraged and sustained to the point that other countries would learn from it.
Awosika enjoined women to remove negativity from their minds when it comes to saving and investing money, adding that if you can do it today, do it today, not tomorrow, and keep learning and believing.
“When I started my journey, the opportunities were different from what they are now, but the principles are the same, and are defined by competence, consistency, and character. No matter how high you go, your values should remain higher,” she said.
Olufemi Shobanjo, CEO of NGX Regulation Limited, addressing the audience, said that the theme of the financial fair is fitting and a call to move into greater capacity, emphasising that building wealth is a journey that is open to all, especially to women, who are ready to level up.
“Women need financial confidence, and financial confidence does not require one to have more money, but to approach money with confidence. You do not need millions of naira to start saving and investing — with as low as N50,000, you can start an investment,” Shobanjo said.
The NGX CEO further emphasised that women need to be empowered with tools and knowledge that will make them financially stable. He added that women also need to be committed to their development and future, and when they do, it benefits not only them but also their families and communities.
In a panel section moderated by compere and corporate communications executive, Gloria Babarinde, three businesswomen — founder and CEO of Fine Funky Collectionz, Olufunke Boluwatife Davies; founder of Evolve with Edememe, Edememe Oladiji-Wusu; founder of Elite Finishing School, Ayenime Edem; and founder of Ziba and business growth expert, Tricia Olufemi-Olumide — spoke on how to help women build the mindset shift, confidence-building practice, and personal habits that turn ambition into achievement, and self-belief into success.
The panel stressed that limiting beliefs are killers of innovation and success, and that if a woman does not know herself, she will not be able to value herself and her business. Hence, they urged women to believe they deserve the best and right things with their hearts. They enjoined women to build trust in their business endeavours by building capacity, and sustainable processes and structures, no matter how small it is.
They encouraged women to replace fear and doubts with confidence, look towards the future, and be in proximity with people they want to be like. They added that appearance matters, and it is a currency that fosters competence. Finally, they advised women to invest in themselves and bring the divine into their lives and business journeys. 
In another panel session, moderated by the convener of the conference, Financial Jennifer, two digital creative women — CEO of Ruth Kadiri Productions, Ruth Kadiri; and food and lifestyle creator and digital entrepreneur, Yemisi Sophie Odusanya — discussed the opportunities and challenges in the creative space, especially regarding content creation on social and digital mediums.
These women stated that people who do not have purpose and direction are those who do things, thinking that they are in competition with others. In light of this, they advised women not to do things for the sake of doing them but because they know why they are doing them and also because they know the journey involved in doing them.
The panel urged women to have a structure and process in their lives, families, and businesses, and balance them well through delegation of tasks and outsourcing of jobs. To level up in life and business, they enjoined women to make sure they are not just seen, but are also heard. They also emphasised that positivity and optimism are germane in levelling up.
“The lessons you learn from your challenges are the products and solutions you will sell in the future,” they added.
The last panel, involving financial expert Ifeoluwa Adegoke; founder of Your Personal Finance Girl (YPFG), Oluchukwu Chiadika; and personal finance coach Hilda Manyo Dickson, discussed the mindset and habits that influence investments, businesses, and personal development.
These female financial experts and life coaches spoke extensively on ‘side hustle’ and secondary sources of income, and how to manage money and lifestyle to be a better investor and wealth creator. They advise women to do what they love and get skills to grow and develop in doing what they love.
The panel stressed that there are many problems in society seeking solutions and value, which is why women should be observant in choosing a side hustle, and make sure they are not in competition with anybody or business.
“There is money everywhere, and there is always a need to fill or meet. Make sure you are real to yourself, which will enable you to know the right places to invest or save your money,” they advised.
