Some barriers seem impossible to break until someone does. Across Nigeria’s essential HEART sectors: Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation, women are shattering limitations and reshaping industries. These are not just success stories; they are blueprints for the future.
Engr. Abimbola Akinajo Delivered Lagos’s First Metro Line
For 40 years, Lagos dreamed of a metro rail system. Under Engr. Abimbola Akinajo’s leadership as MD of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), that dream became reality. She navigated financial challenges and complex urban planning to deliver the Lagos Blue Line, a 27-kilometer rail route that’s transforming city transportation.
Sterling provided key financing for the project, supporting Engr. Akinajo’s vision. Her strategic leadership also secured additional funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) for further transit projects, ensuring a more connected Lagos.
Sekinat Taiwo Broke a Guinness World Record with EV Innovation
Sekinat Taiwo had a goal to break the Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered by an electric auto-rickshaw in 12 hours. But she lacked the vehicle to do it, until Sterling stepped in. Through Qoray, Sterling’s new energy initiative, she received cutting-edge EV technology.
Not only did she crush the 250-kilometer target, covering 347 kilometers in 12 hours, but her success also spotlighted Nigeria’s potential for clean, sustainable transportation. Qoray has since facilitated the local conversion of internal combustion engine vehicles to electric and upgraded EV charging stations across the country.
Rabi Kabiru is Transforming Small Farms into a National Agricultural Force
Rabi Kabiru started her farming journey in Kaduna with no experience, just a determination to provide for her nine children. She turned her small three-quarter-acre farm into a hub of learning, bringing together women in her community. What started in her living room grew into the Farmers’ Service and Agri-business Center.
With support from Sterling’s Feed the Future program, Rabi accessed resources, trained over 20,000 farmers in modern techniques, and secured a ₦20,000,000 credit facility to expand operations. Under her leadership, maize productivity soared from 1.5 to 4.8 metric tons per hectare, proving that with the right support, agribusinesses can thrive.
Busayo Adetumi is Expanding Sustainable Agriculture Amid Economic Challenges
Through a Federal Government youth empowerment initiative, Busayo Adetumi launched Jarah Farms. Challenges like fluctuating feed costs and demand threatened her vision, but with a capital infusion from Sterling, her farm doubled production capacity, growing from 750 to 2,000 birds.
This growth allowed her to meet increasing client demand, create jobs, and reinforce Nigeria’s agricultural sustainability.
Emmanuela Onyeijeoma Okoli Turned Business Failure into a Thriving Export Empire
When Emmanuela’s import business collapsed, she pivoted to poultry farming. Limited capital posed a major challenge, but through Sterling’s SWAY Agfin facility, she secured the financial support needed to launch Royal Three Global Farms Ltd.
Today, she supplies processed broiler birds to major eateries in Aba and has expanded into crop processing. She now exports powdered plantain, potatoes, yam, beans, and cassava, proving that setbacks can be stepping stones to greater success.
The Revolution Won’t Wait 134 Years
These women are more than pioneers, they are architects of progress. Whether in agriculture, transportation, or renewable energy, they are proving that when barriers break, legacies are built. Their stories serve as an inspiration, showing that progress doesn’t wait 134 years, it happens now.
Sterling remains committed to driving impact across the HEART sectors because a thriving society benefits everyone. Are you ready to be part of this movement? Learn more about our impact here.
