Women entrepreneurs partner Taj Bank to organise halal fair in Ilorin
About 100 Muslim women entrepreneurs in Kwara State have concluded plans to organise a trade fair in Ilorin.
The Fair is aimed at empowering women-led businesses, strengthening local enterprise and boosting economic development in the state.
The convener, Hajiya Fatimah Saliu, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on preparations for the forthcoming Muslimah Entrepreneurs Trade Fair.
The event, she said, is being organised in partnership with TAJ Bank and the Kwara State government.
According to her, the initiative is designed to reshape the business narrative among women engaged in halal and ethical enterprises, while providing them with a structured platform to showcase their products and services.
READ ALSO: Kwara lawmakers worried over students’ sperm, egg sales
Hajiya Saliu noted that Muslim women entrepreneurs contribute significantly to household income, food security, manufacturing, services and creative industries across Kwara, but lamented that many of the businesses remain informal, largely unseen and unsupported.
“This trade fair is not just about buying and selling. It is a purpose driven platform created to address a real gap we see every day, women running viable businesses but lacking visibility, structured markets and access to opportunities that allow them to scale sustainably,” she said.
Hajiya Saliu, who is also the founder of Baytu Tejmeel and BaytuBillions, stressed that although the initiative is Muslimah led and values driven, the trade fair is open to all vendors and members of the general public. The fair is slated for between January and February 2026.
Speaking on the partnership, the branch manager of TAJ Bank, Lanre Gambari, said the bank is collaborating with the organisers to reduce registration fees for participants and provide incentives tied to the event.
He added that TAJ Bank would continue to support initiatives that promote ethical finance and place Muslim women at the forefront of business and entrepreneurship.