Since time immemorial, the societal expectation has been that women operate under men—be it in wealth creation, career growth, or economic influence. Over the decades, this narrative has been challenged and rewritten. Today, women are not only job creators but industry leaders, entrepreneurs, boardroom executives, and CEOs of top-rated corporations. Yet, only a few navigate their way into this echelon with visible impact.

One such woman is Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti, founder of Herconomy (formerly AGS Tribe), a Nigerian fintech and community-driven platform empowering women through economic opportunities. Her journey presents a blueprint for any woman aspiring to financial independence and societal influence.

From Observation to Impact

Ifedayo, fondly known as Ife, observed firsthand the challenges women face in achieving financial independence. Inspired by her mother’s experience—a lawyer who paused her career to raise a family and later found herself financially constrained—Ifedayo recognized a systemic problem: African women are disproportionately unbanked, underpaid, and economically excluded.

According to the IMF, only 37% of women in sub-Saharan Africa have bank accounts, and many lack the tools to save, invest, or grow wealth. In Nigeria alone, over 64 million women remain unbanked, a situation Ifedayo sought to change.

Herconomy: Banking, Empowerment, and Community

Founded on her lived experiences and insights from running AGS Tribe, the largest female professional network in Nigeria, Ifedayo launched Herconomy. The platform combines fintech solutions with a community-driven approach to empower women in four key ways:

• Financial Services – High-interest savings accounts and banking solutions tailored for women.
• Capacity Building – Access to grants, scholarships, and skill development programs.
• Networking & Mentorship – Connecting women with peers, industry leaders, and mentors.
• Economic Opportunities – Job placements, partnerships, and investment avenues.

Herconomy is currently the only platform in Nigeria offering female-focused bank accounts that provide 10% annual interest on savings and discounts of up to 30% with partner brands. Through this approach, Ifedayo is democratizing wealth and capacity building for women across the continent.

Entrepreneurial Journey

Ifedayo’s entrepreneurial path began without a family business legacy. In 2015, she co-founded Parliamo Bambini, providing locally manufactured furniture for newborns, and Philos & Zoe, a contemporary children’s clothing brand. These ventures addressed local market gaps and fostered job creation.

In 2018, she launched Accessing Grants for Startups (AGS Tribe), a platform that quickly became the largest community of female professionals in Nigeria. The insights gained from AGS Tribe paved the way for Herconomy, blending financial services, networking, and capacity-building for women at scale.

A Strong and Experienced Team

Herconomy’s success is anchored in a highly skilled team with over 40 years of combined experience across software development, project management, operations, finance, human resources, and data analytics.

• CTO: Leads software development with 17+ years of experience managing multi-million-dollar projects.
• Lead Developer: Nearly a decade of software engineering expertise, including fintech product development.
• CFO: C-Suite executive with 17 years’ experience in finance, entrepreneurship, and women empowerment initiatives.
• COO & People Operations: Professionals with extensive experience in banking, ad tech, and human resource management, driving operational excellence and organizational culture.

Ifedayo herself is recognized globally for her efforts in youth and women empowerment, having collaborated with institutions such as the World Bank and earned recognition as a Peace Scholar by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vision for the Future

Ifedayo’s ambitious goals for Herconomy include:

• Empowering 1 million women by 2025
• Growing active savers from 100,000
• Increasing assets under management to $1 million
• Expanding the number of trainees to 200,000
• Launching a women-focused marketplace
• Partnering with 1,000 affinity partners

For Ifedayo, the ultimate satisfaction lies in seeing African women financially independent and able to contribute meaningfully to their communities and economies.

Impact and Advocacy

A report by the McKinsey Global Institute highlights that Africa could add $1 trillion to its GDP by 2025 if women and men participated equally in labor markets. Ifedayo is deliberate about closing this gap through Herconomy, ensuring women access resources, opportunities, and knowledge needed to thrive.

Her advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is simple yet profound:

"Go for it! There is no better time to start than now. If any woman has achieved her dreams, you can too. You are the next big thing waiting to happen."

Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti exemplifies the modern African woman: visionary, resilient, and impactful. Through Herconomy, she is not only rewriting the narrative of women in business but also creating a future where financial independence, opportunity, and empowerment are realities, not exceptions.

Her story is a blueprint for any woman determined to redefine wealth, influence, and success.