PAWEN marked International Women’s Month in 2026 by launching the second cohort of the Girlpreneur Africa Program (GAP). And when applications closed, we had a whopping 536 young women from 13 African countries apply from 95 universities. That is what PAWEN exists for. And every time we see numbers like these, we are reminded that the need for this program is as real as ever.
About the Girlpreneur Africa Program
GAP is a free, cohort-based entrepreneurship program created specifically for young women in African universities. Through interactive masterclasses, hands-on assignments, mentorship, and a Pan-African peer community, participants move from curiosity to action, developing real business ideas, building confidence, and taking their first steps toward launching a venture. The program culminates in a pitch competition where participants present their ideas and receive feedback, recognition, and financial support. It is practical, community-driven, and completely free for every participant who earns a place.
That last part matters more than it might seem. Our entrepreneurship programs are completely free for participants, made possible only by the generosity of people who believe in African women. If you would like to support this work, consider donating today. Click here to support our work.
Phase 1 of GAP has just concluded, with the girls split into 20 peer groups. Think of them as your squad within the larger squad, and as part of their community tasks, they were asked to choose a team name inspired by an impactful African female leader. Throughout this program, you will see groups carrying names like: The Prestige Queens of Maathai, honouring Wangari Maathai. Moremi’s Dynasty, reaching back to Queen Moremi Ajasoro. The Okonjo Iweala group, named after Africa’s most recognised economist. Fuel Your Dream group, inspired by Folorunsho Alakija. And the Becoming Collectives, inspired by Michelle Obama. These are a declaration of intent. When you name yourself after Wangari Maathai, you are not just paying tribute; you are setting a standard for yourself. And we are here for every bit of it.
On March 31, we launched one of the most energising parts of Phase 1: the visibility campaign. The task was simple but powerful. Each participant recorded a 10-second video, their name, country, and presence. Watch the highlight video here.
One of the things that makes GAP unlike any other program is who is in the room. These are young women from Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Botswana, and other countries, 13 countries in total, all learning together, challenging each other, and building something side by side. That Pan-African mix is not just a nice detail. It is the whole point. When a student in Accra shares her business idea and gets feedback from someone in Uganda and encouragement from someone in Lagos, something shifts. She stops seeing her ambition as a local thing and starts seeing it as part of a much bigger movement. Connections are forming across borders that will outlast this program, friendships, partnerships, and networks that would simply not exist otherwise.
What Is Coming in Phase 2
Phase 2 is where things get real. Having spent Phase 1 finding their footing, building community, and getting to know each other, participants now move into the heart of the program. In the coming weeks, participants will dive into entrepreneurship masterclasses covering everything from idea validation to building simple, viable business models. They will work through hands-on assignments designed to push their thinking and sharpen their ideas.
They will be matched with coaches and mentors, experienced entrepreneurs and founders who will pour into them, challenge their assumptions, and help them see possibilities they might not have considered on their own. We are only at the beginning of what this cohort will do. But if Phase 1 is anything to go by, Phase 2 is going to be something worth following up with.
Stay with us.