Nigeria’s informal economy is dominated by women, who run a large proportion of businesses in the country’s bustling markets and street commerce. However, despite this dominance, women entrepreneurs face significant financial constraints, earning less profit daily compared to their male counterparts. 35% of Nigerian businesses in the informal sector are owned by women, according to Moniepoint’s 2025 Informal Economy Report. However, these women-owned businesses often struggle with narrow margins and limited access to capital. This disparity is evident in their earnings: 41% of women-owned businesses earn less than ₦10,000 daily compared to 34% of male-owned businesses. A significant portion of these women traders operate on thin profit margins, making it challenging for them to reinvest or expand their businesses. The report highlights how the gender gap extends to financial access. Women are significantly less likely to receive loans above ₦1 million and face higher costs due to informal levies, limiting their ability to scale up. The majority of women rely on cooperative savings schemes such as ajo and esusu for liquidity, but these systems do not provide the flexibility or capital needed for significant growth. Informal business owners often use these small savings to restock or manage expenses. While they contribute significantly to Nigeria’s informal economy, their limited access to formal finance creates a cycle of financial exclusion that leaves them vulnerable to economic shocks and unable to benefit from opportunities like government programs and credit schemes. This report sheds light on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s informal economy, highlighting how social structures and financial barriers create a system where they face greater difficulties than their male counterparts. While these businesses provide essential services for communities across the nation, the lack of proper support leaves them struggling to truly thrive.