Under the leadership of award-winning gender and development economics specialist Adesuwa Imasekha, WIN Academy will equip women and girls aged 18 – 40 across Nigeria with practical skills, mentorship and the tools to build lasting economic independence. Classes begin July 2026.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – 24 June 2026 – Women Impacting Nigeria (WIN), one of West Africa’s largest grassroots women’s organisations, today announced the launch of WIN Academy, a 12-month skills, leadership and entrepreneurship program designed to equip women and young girls with the practical knowledge, mentorship and tools needed for personal, professional and economic growth. Applications open through WIN’s official channels, with classes scheduled to commence in July 2026.
WIN Academy responds to one of the most persistent barriers to women’s advancement in Nigeria, not a shortage of ambition or talent, but a shortage of access. Across the country, millions of women and girls hold the aspiration to lead, build and earn, yet lack consistent access to practical learning, mentorship, professional guidance and the support systems that turn potential into livelihoods. The Academy is built to close that gap with a structured, year-long learning journey that participants can apply directly to their careers, businesses and life decisions.
A program conceived to make empowerment practical, continuous and measurable
WIN Academy was conceived under the leadership of Adesuwa Imasekha, Founder and President of Women Impacting Nigeria, an award-winning gender and development economics specialist and a long-standing advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It reflects a development philosophy WIN has championed for more than a decade: that empowerment must be measurable to be meaningful, and that the surest route to gender equality runs through women’s economic power.
“For too long, the conversation about women’s empowerment has ended at potential. WIN Academy is built to close the distance between potential and practice to give women and girls not only the confidence to lead, but the skills, mentorship and networks that make leadership and enterprise possible,” said
Adesuwa Imasekha, Founder and President of Women Impacting Nigeria.
“Empowerment that cannot be measured cannot be trusted. Every module, every mentorship session and every capstone in this Academy is designed to translate into something real: income earned, a business started, a team led, a life changed. When a woman gains skills, an entire community moves forward.”
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A program conceived to make empowerment practical, continuous and measurable
Over 12 months, WIN Academy will focus on five competencies that determine whether women and girls can compete, earn and lead in a fast-changing economy:
- Digital Literacy- the foundational digital skills required for modern work, enterprise and participation.
- Entrepreneurship & Financial Capability- business fundamentals, financial confidence and the tools to start and sustain an enterprise.
- Leadership & Confidence – the mindset, voice and presence to lead in workplaces, communities and public life.
- Professional & Career Readiness- workplace skills, career navigation and employability.
- Business Growth & Innovation- strategy, growth and innovation for women already building enterprises.
Each session is designed around field-tested knowledge that participants can apply immediately, delivered by a faculty of expert speakers, educators, mentors and facilitators
How the Academy works: 36 sessions over 12 months
WIN Academy combines structured teaching with peer learning, mentorship and applied practice in a model designed for working women and students alike:
- 12 monthly virtual masterclasses of 90–120 minutes
- 12 monthly peer learning circles for reflection and accountability
- 9 rotating mentorship sessions connecting participants to experienced professionals
- 3 quarterly in-person deep-dive classes for hands-on learning and networking
- 1 final capstone project that turns a year of learning into a tangible outcome
In total, the program delivers 36 learning sessions. Participants who complete the required learning activities, assignments and capstone project will receive a Certificate of Completion, recognising both commitment and demonstrated growth.
Aligned with the global agenda for gender equality
WIN Academy advances Nigeria’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, directly supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). By widening access to digital, entrepreneurial and leadership skills, the Academy targets the gender gaps in education, economic empowerment and technology that continue to hold back women’s full participation in Nigeria’s economy and public life gaps that the global community has committed to closing by 2030.
Eligibility and how to apply
Program Details
Applications, speaker announcements, class structure and participation requirements will be announced through WIN’s official communication channels. Interested women and girls aged 18–40 are encouraged to follow WIN for registration updates.
Media & Partnership Enquiries
Women Impacting Nigeria (WIN) – Communications Team
Frequently Asked Questions
WIN Academy is a 12-month skills, leadership and entrepreneurship program launched by Women Impacting Nigeria to equip women and girls aged 18–40 with practical skills, mentorship and tools for economic independence and leadership. Classes begin in July 2026.
Women and girls aged 18 to 40 across Nigeria are eligible to apply. Registration details will be announced through WIN’s official communication channels.
Classes commence in July 2026 and run for 12 months.
The Academy focuses on five core areas: digital literacy, entrepreneurship and financial capability, leadership and confidence, professional and career readiness, and business growth and innovation.
It delivers 36 sessions over 12 months -12 monthly virtual masterclasses, 12 peer learning circles, 9 mentorship sessions, 3 in-person classes and a final capstone project. Completing participants receive a Certificate of Completion.
Applications and further details will be published through WIN’s official channels. Follow Women Impacting Nigeria for registration updates, or contact winacademy@womenimpactingnigeria.org