By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The SWIFT Project, implemented by the Society for Family Health (SFH) with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has trained about 70 participants across the Ikorodu and Alimosho clusters of Lagos State between November 10 and 14, 2025.
The initiative is part of a broader, state-wide effort to expand women’s economic empowerment, enhance access to financial services, and strengthen the business viability of community pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) in all Local Government Areas.
At the heart of the intervention is a drive to increase women’s ownership of Patent Medicine Shops and support the accreditation of at least 400 new female, health-trained PPMVs, with a strong focus on underserved communities.
The training highlighted the crucial link between sustainable primary healthcare delivery and the financial stability of frontline health providers, noting that PPMVs can deliver consistent, high-quality services only when operating profitable and resilient businesses.
Participants received practical exposure to tools and partnerships that can improve their access to finance, digital inventory systems, and structured business planning, capabilities essential for modern, competitive health enterprises.
A standout innovation introduced during the programme is the SWIFT Zuma Money Market Fund and the SWIFT Zuma Commercial Paper. These financial instruments aim to replace traditional informal savings and borrowing practices among PPMVs with structured, credible systems that promote financial discipline and unlock access to capital.
SWIFT Project Lead, Ummi Rahma Shehu, facilitated sessions on financial literacy, covering business mathematics, profit and loss, credit management, cash flow planning, and the principles of disciplined saving. Drawing inspiration from The Richest Man in Babylon, she underscored the importance of financial discipline and wise investment for long-term business growth.
Business Development Adviser, Christiana Odeh, urged participants to transition from a passive “shopkeeper” mindset to an entrepreneurial, customer-focused approach. She encouraged innovation, adaptability, and risk-taking while addressing limiting beliefs that often hinder business expansion. Her message centred on adopting a growth mindset to remain competitive in a dynamic health-business landscape.
The training also drew participation from stakeholders including Tillit, NAPPMED, LSMDA, and Radease. The Zonal Director of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Dr. Taiwo Filusi, praised SFH for strengthening the capacity of medicine vendors across Lagos. He urged trainees to apply their new skills, upgrade their facilities, and pursue proper licensing to ensure compliance and quality service delivery.
The participants form the first cohort of a four-batch rollout expected to make 1,321 PPMVs financially literate and investment-ready by 2027, marking a significant step towards sustainable healthcare and economic empowerment for women in Lagos State.
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