She Leads Africa (SLA) BoostHer Program 2026 for Young Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs

The She Leads Africa (SLA) BoostHer Program 2026 is a free training and business development opportunity for young Nigerian women who want to start a business, improve an existing venture or build practical skills that can lead to income. The programme, run by She Leads Africa in partnership with Jobberman, combines self-paced learning, live masterclasses, coaching and community support. Women aged 18 to 35 can participate, including those with business ideas and women already running small businesses.

What Is the SLA BoostHer Program?

The BoostHer Program was created around a simple problem. Many young Nigerian women have useful skills, business ideas and the willingness to work, but lack the training, guidance and connections needed to turn those abilities into steady income.

The programme addresses that gap through a combination of digital, professional and entrepreneurial training.

It is not restricted to women who already have established companies. The programme has been designed to accommodate women at different stages, including those still developing an idea and those who already have a business and want to improve how they operate.

SLA’s own programme information describes BoostHer as a blended learning experience that combines advanced self-paced courses, expert-led masterclasses and practical guidance.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is primarily aimed at young Nigerian women between 18 and 35 years old.

It is suitable for women who are:

• Building a business
• Developing a business idea
• Looking for practical digital skills
• Interested in freelancing
• Trying to improve an existing business
• Looking for employment or career advancement
• Interested in learning skills they can turn into income

The programme does not require every applicant to be a university graduate. SLA’s 2026 impact report states that the programme was designed for Nigerian women who had completed at least secondary education, including graduates, students and active business owners.

What Will Participants Learn?

One of the useful things about BoostHer is the range of skills available.

Training areas have included:

Digital Marketing and Content Creation

Participants can learn how to promote businesses and communicate effectively online through digital marketing and content creation.

This can be useful for women selling products or services who currently depend mainly on personal contacts and referrals.

Data Analysis

The programme also provides training in data analysis, giving participants an opportunity to develop a skill that can be useful for employment, freelancing and business decision-making.

Brand Identity and Strategy

For entrepreneurs, understanding how to present a business properly can make a significant difference. Participants can learn about building a recognisable business identity and positioning their products or services.

Executive Virtual Assistance

Women interested in remote work can develop virtual assistance skills and learn how to support businesses and executives remotely.

Video Editing

Video has become an important part of online business and communication. BoostHer includes video editing among its practical skills areas.

These are not the only areas covered. The programme continues to expand its training options as new cohorts and activities are introduced.

What About Women Who Already Own Businesses?

This is where the programme becomes particularly relevant to entrepreneurs.

The SLA BoostHer Program 2026 is not designed only for women looking for jobs. The entrepreneurial pathway is intended for women who are already building businesses and need practical skills to improve their operations and reach more customers.

SLA’s programme has also included an Incubator for women-led businesses at the early stage. The incubator is aimed at businesses operating for around 0 to 1 year, particularly founders who are not yet generating consistent revenue.

Participants in that pathway can receive business coaching, weekly masterclasses, self-paced learning, pitch practice and help developing a business plan and minimum viable product.

This makes the opportunity worth considering even if your main interest is entrepreneurship rather than employment.

Is the Training Free?

Yes. The BoostHer programme is offered as a free opportunity for eligible Nigerian women.

There are online learning activities as well as live sessions. The programme has also held physical events, including the BoostHer Career & Trade Fair in Lagos.

The 2026 fair brought together more than 650 women and included business exhibitors, career sessions, networking and practical workshops. The wider BoostHer programme continues beyond the physical event through virtual weekly training.

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How Many Women Have Benefited?

The programme has already reached a substantial number of Nigerian women.

According to SLA’s 2026 impact report, 13,709 women were trained during Year 1, while 2,750 recorded income improvements through jobs, promotions, freelance work or product sales connected to skills gained through the programme.

For Year 2, the programme has set a target of training 30,000 women and placing 15,000 participants into active employment or income pathways.

That gives some indication of the scale of the programme rather than presenting it simply as another online course.

What Should Applicants Expect?

Applicants should be prepared to actually participate.

The value of BoostHer comes from completing the training, attending relevant live sessions, applying what is taught and using the community and coaching opportunities available.

For a business owner, that could mean taking a digital marketing course and then applying what you learn to your own business.

For someone with a business idea, it could mean using the training to clarify the idea, build an initial product and develop a more practical business plan.

For someone seeking employment, the same programme can provide a route into skills such as data analysis, virtual assistance, content creation or digital marketing.

Application Deadline

Application deadline: No specific closing date is currently stated on the official SLA programme page.

The programme is currently presented as open on SLA’s website, while third-party listings also describe the application as open without giving a confirmed final deadline.

Applicants should therefore avoid waiting for a deadline to be announced if the application form is available.

How to Apply

Eligible Nigerian women can apply through the official She Leads Africa platform.

Application Link: Apply for the SLA BoostHer Program 2026

The She Leads Africa (SLA) BoostHer Program 2026 is particularly useful for women who want something they can apply immediately to their work or business. It is free, covers several practical skills and has both professional and entrepreneurial pathways.

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