Wema Bank returns as Fashion Souk headline sponsor

Wema Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and small businesses with its return as the headline sponsor of Fashion Souk 2026, one of Nigeria’s foremost fashion and lifestyle exhibitions. According to data released by the lender, its strategic partnership with the lifestyle exhibition platform has continued to deliver measurable economic impact, facilitating over N1.5bn in revenue for small and medium-scale enterprises across the June and December Lagos events in 2025. A total of 315 businesses participated in the previous two editions, with female-led enterprises accounting for over 90 per cent of the total exhibitors. The bank noted that the platform remains a vital avenue for entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners to showcase their products, engage customers, expand professional networks, and drive long-term business growth. The lender explained that the performance metrics reflect its sustained efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment and strengthen the local SME ecosystem, which remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy. Related News ‘Africa’s payments boom exposes regulatory, infrastructure gaps’ Alpha10 unveils Halal Fund to support MSMEs DBN disburses over N1tn to MSMEs Buoyed by the success of the previous outings, Wema Bank disclosed that the 2026 programme will feature two distinct editions of the Fashion Souk. The expansion is designed to provide participating businesses with increased opportunities to access new markets, enhance brand visibility, attract consumer traffic, and scale up operations. “The Group remains focused on strengthening its capital deployment and expanding market access for emerging retail brands, ensuring that female-led enterprises have the structured financial backing to scale sustainably,” the lender said. The bank added that the initiative aligns with its broader institutional commitment to entrepreneurship development, financial inclusion, and sustainable business growth, particularly among women-owned enterprises and emerging indigenous brands. Over the years, the Fashion Souk has evolved into a premier platform for connecting retail businesses with consumers while fostering innovation and collaboration within Nigeria’s fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and creative industries. Through its continued headline sponsorship, Wema Bank aims to deepen its intervention in the real sector by providing critical market access to entrepreneurs and contributing significantly to the overall expansion of the country’s vibrant SME sector. Jide Ajia Jide, a seasoned journalist with ov