Empowering Women and Transforming Africa: Breaking the Gender Lens

This article was originally published by the George-Anne Student Media Group.

“Capital is power. When women entrepreneurs gain access to capital, entire communities move forward and economies grow stronger.” 

Most college students dream of making a lasting impact after graduation, and Mansur Kasali, a young college student is one who is actively turning his dream into reality before even tossing his cap.

Question (Q): If you had to sum up your journey so far in one word or phrase, what would it be? 

“Relentless. This journey has been about staying disciplined and focused on execution, no matter how many doors I had to knock on.” 

After watching his single mother struggle, work, persevere, and rebuild their family’s life after the loss of his father, Kasali saw resilience. “She was shut out of opportunities simply because she was a woman,” Kasali shares, “yet she still managed to raise a family and keep us moving forward.”

That same resilience became the blueprint for his vision for the EmpowerHer Capital.

Kasali’s journey began with a Wall Street internship, where he used his earnings and social ambitions to create EmpowerHer Capital.

Founded in 2025, this nonprofit organization aims to deploy capital and mentorship to women-led enterprises across West Africa, starting in Nigeria and Ghana.

At the age of only 19 years old, Mansur Kasali dedicated his time and invaluable knowledge gained from both his studies and personal experiences to help close the opportunity gap for women entrepreneurs in Africa by giving them what they need most: access to capital, mentorship, and networks.

Continuously connecting women-led launchings with funding and guidance from experts in fields from finance, law, healthcare, and development. All helping them grow, create jobs, and most importantly, strengthen their communities while boosting the economy.

“I didn’t wait until I had decades of experience or a big title to start building EmpowerHer Capital,” Mansur explains. “I have learned that finance isn’t just a career path or a standalone industry but also a lever that can be used to unlock opportunity and drive social progress. That perspective shaped the vision for EmpowerHer: to use the tools of finance to bridge the funding gap for women entrepreneurs.” 

EmpowerHer Capital now has a board of leaders  from global finance, law, healthcare, and public policy. The board includes professionals with backgrounds at leading Wall Street banks, multinational law firms, and international development institutions.

This Capital has even partnered with schools, community groups, and tech leaders across Ibadan, Lagos, and Abuja.

Did you know?

Africa is the world’s youngest continent.

The idea of helping women realize, educate and invest in their potential is key to capturing demographic and economic earnings.

Many women-led businesses in West Africa face steep barriers to growth because traditional banks often view them as “too risky.” Single women, are offered only small, high-interest loans, if they can access credit at all, blocking them from reaching their goals, no matter how hard they work.

One of EmpowerHer Capital’s first participants, initially struggled with pricing and lacked mentorship. After being paired with a marketing strategist through the program, she restructured her pricing, developed a growth plan, and quickly secured larger corporate contracts. Her experience shows the program’s impact, providing not just funding, but also mentorship, tools, and confidence that enable women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and create local jobs where they live.

“EmpowerHer Capital exists to make sure that women like my mother aren’t left to do it all alone. We’re building the capital access, mentorship, and networks that can unlock their full potential,” Mansur Kasali.

Upcoming Milestones!

EmpowerHer Capital sees global gatherings like the Clinton Global Initiative and World Bank/IMF meetings as a chance to highlight the importance of funding women entrepreneurs, build partnerships, and learn from others.

Kasali explains, “When decision-makers hear directly from African-led organizations, it shapes how resources are allocated and whose solutions get funded. For us, it’s about visibility, partnerships, and learning how to grow responsibly.”

The goal is to make sure EmpowerHer’s impact goes beyond a few businesses and helps change the norm for women entrepreneurs across the region.

Q: Why is it so important to support women-led businesses right now? 

“It’s critical to support women-led businesses now because women remain disproportionately denied access to capital compared to their male counterparts. This means many viable ideas never get funded, and communities lose out on jobs, growth, and innovation. I’ve seen firsthand how access to even modest capital can transform a family’s trajectory.

Kasali continues by explaining, “EmpowerHer Capital is about bridging that gap at scale: using the tools of finance to make sure women entrepreneurs can access the same networks and resources that men have traditionally dominated. If we succeed, we won’t just fund businesses; we’ll reshape what’s considered ‘normal’ in our region and beyond. We would have proven that women deserve equal access to opportunities.”

In the next five years…

Kasali says, “EmpowerHer Capital aims to be the leading platform for women entrepreneurs in West Africa, recognized not just for mentorship and training, but for creating real pathways to capital. The goal is to support hundreds of women-led businesses, build a self-sustaining alumni network, and partner with banks, development finance institutions, and impact investors to make the region’s financial system more inclusive.”

The Founder further strongly states, “It should become normal for women in cities to walk into a bank or pitch to venture capitalists and have a fair chance at financing. Women deserve the same opportunities as men in their communities; improving access to education, and providing mentorship with the same tools and resources available to men, in Africa and the whole world.”

Q: As a young leader, what has been the best piece of advice a mentor has given you that still guides you today? 

“One of my mentors, Kristofer Madu, told me that leadership is about more than being at the table; it’s more about making space for others. That advice has shaped how I think about EmpowerHer Capital. It’s not about me, it’s about opening doors so that women entrepreneurs who’ve been excluded can finally take their rightful place.”

Get involved! 

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. You don’t need to have everything figured out or be sitting in a corner office before you start making a difference.” 

You can make a real difference by getting involved with EmpowerHer Capital.

Students and even professionals can mentor women entrepreneurs, lead skills workshops, or contribute to research and policy projects that promote more inclusive financing.

Any contribution, big or small, helps close the financing gap and create lasting opportunities for the next generation of business leaders across West Africa.