Motherhood is a journey like no other, and navigating the world of finance can be overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling diaper changes, school runs, and career goals. But what if you had the tools, resources, and support to take control of your financial future?

That’s exactly what The Mum Fund, a financial empowerment initiative for mothers, aims to provide. Recently launched in Nigeria, the initiative is revolutionising the way mothers approach money management, business, and wealth-building.

The event featured workshops, mentoring sessions, and financial literacy classes designed to equip participants with tools to build wealth, launch businesses, and navigate the unique challenges of motherhood in the modern workforce.

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A Conversation Without Fear or Guilt

Ibiyinka Ibru, CEO and founder of MoneyStart, co-convener of the Mum Fund, said the idea for the initiative came about after realising that many mothers wanted financial information but didn’t know where to start. “Because you have that weight of responsibility of being in charge of somebody outside of yourself, right? And you want to take action. But what we find is that because they don’t really know what to do, that desire to take action turns into fear, overwhelm, or just avoiding money altogether. And it shouldn’t be the case.”

Ibru emphasised that the goal was to create a space where mothers could have conversations about money without fear, guilt, or shame. “We’re not better than you. We’re coming together to see how we can address this for ourselves.”

The event featured a panel of speakers, including mothers who shared their personal experiences and financial journeys. Ibru said the panellists were chosen for their relatability and ability to inspire action. “We wanted people to feel like they could take control of their financial futures,” she added.

Implementing Lessons Learned

To ensure that participants implement the lessons learned, MoneyStart sent a free financial plan to every attendee, which would be followed up on to provide support and guidance. “Our goal is to help women take control of their finances and build wealth,” Ibru said.

A Movement for Financial Empowerment

Feyi Bello, co-convener of the Mum Fund and founder and CEO of Swaddle, said the initiative was about creating a movement for financial empowerment among mothers.

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“Financial empowerment is a right, not a privilege,” Bello said. “We want more women to feel like they have access to financial knowledge and resources.”

Bello emphasised that the goal was to make financial empowerment a norm among mothers. “Let’s have more conversations. Men do this all the time. They gather, they talk about money, it’s nothing. But for women, it’s like there’s shame, there’s guilt. I don’t want to look like I’m bragging. Why? Let’s talk, let’s build, let’s create, let’s not be scared.”

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The event attracted over 260 participants, both in-person and online, exceeding the organisers’ expectations. Bello said the turnout was a testament to the need for financial empowerment among mothers. “We’re grateful for the response and plan to make this an annual event,” she added.

Expert Advice

During the panel session, Adenike Ogunlesi, founder and creative director of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, advised participants to build systems, processes, and structures in their businesses. “People are important in building a business,” Ogunlesi said. “You need to lead yourself and build a strong foundation. Technology is key. From one command control room, we know what is going on.”

Tosin Adesanya, another speaker, emphasised the importance of saving and giving back. “You have to save and you must also give back,” Adesanya said. “Every decision I took has my children at the centre of it. I never travelled with my children with the nannies. I took five years out of my career just to be with my children.”

The Mum Fund aims to continue empowering mothers to take control of their financial futures, providing a supportive community and resources for financial literacy and wealth-building.

The event was sponsored by AXA Mansard Investments and co-organised by MoneyStart and Swaddle.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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