In today’s economic environment—particularly in societies like ours where women are increasingly encouraged to embrace entrepreneurship as a way to support their families—the journey to building a successful business is still far from easy. Although women-owned enterprises continue to expand and provide financial stability that helps reduce vulnerability and lower the risks of gender-based violence (GBV), many women entrepreneurs face persistent challenges. These include high operational costs, limited access to affordable technical support, and a business environment that often remains unfriendly to small and emerging enterprises.
Supporting women in business is therefore more than an economic strategy; it is a powerful social intervention that strengthens households, enhances community resilience, and contributes to safer, more empowered societies.
For new business owners—especially those starting out on their own—managing every aspect of a venture without assistance can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has opened a major opportunity. AI now offers cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions that help small businesses operate more efficiently, automate routine tasks, reduce expenses, and increase profitability without the need for large teams. This technological shift enables women entrepreneurs to compete more effectively, scale their businesses faster, and achieve the financial independence that further contributes to reducing GBV and improving overall wellbeing.
Below are 20 ways AI tools can help small businesses successfully operate as solo enterprises, followed by a look at how this applies in the Nigerian context—and why U.S. companies are aggressively targeting this growing solo-entrepreneur market.
20 Ways Small Businesses Can Benefit From AI
Automated Bookkeeping and Accounting
AI software can record transactions, generate financial reports, and simplify tax preparation.
Smart Customer Service (Chatbots)
AI-powered chat assistants can answer customer inquiries 24/7, reducing the need for full-time support staff.
Affordable Digital Marketing
AI tools help schedule posts, manage campaigns, and provide insights to improve marketing performance.
Automatic Social Media Content Creation
Entrepreneurs can use AI to generate posts, captions, and graphics quickly and professionally.
Market Research and Trend Analysis
AI can analyze data from the market to show what products or services are in demand.
Product Pricing Optimization
AI systems compare competitor pricing and recommend the best price to maximize profit.
Inventory Management
AI predicts stock usage and alerts business owners before products run out.
Product Recommendations
AI can suggest products to customers based on their preferences, improving sales.
Business Planning Assistance
AI can help draft business plans, financial forecasts, and pitch documents.
Email Marketing Automation
AI platforms can create personalized email campaigns and send them automatically.
Credit and Loan Evaluation
Some AI tools help assess financial status and recommend the best funding options.
Website Building and Management
AI website builders allow non-technical users to create professional websites in minutes.
Sales Forecasting
AI can predict future sales based on data, helping business owners plan better.
Virtual Personal Assistants
AI assistants can schedule appointments, set reminders, and manage daily tasks.
Graphic Design and Branding
AI-based design platforms can create logos, brochures, banners, and business cards at low cost.
Voice-to-Text Business Documentation
Instead of typing, business owners can speak and AI will convert speech into written text.
Translation and Localization
AI can translate marketing materials and websites, making it easier to reach new markets.
Customer Behavior Analysis
AI identifies customer needs and buying habits, helping entrepreneurs sell more effectively.
AI-Driven Training and Learning
Platforms can teach business skills—from marketing to bookkeeping—tailored to the user’s pace.
Fraud Detection and Cyber Security
AI systems help detect suspicious transactions and protect business data, improving trust and safety.
Why This Matters in Nigeria: Key Statistics
SME Dominance: Around 96% of Nigerian businesses are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Women-led Businesses: About 40% of MSMEs in Nigeria are owned by women, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Declining SME Count: The number of small-scale industrialists in Nigeria dropped by 45% between 2020 and 2022.
New Business Formation Is Slowing: In 2024, Nigeria’s “business birth rate” fell to 24%, down from 30% in 2023.
Entrepreneurship Index: The State of Entrepreneurship Index for Nigeria rose modestly to 0.47 (out of 1.0) in 2025.
Technology Adoption: In the most recent report, 88% of entrepreneurs said they used technology in their business operations.
Entrepreneurial Motivation: Despite challenges, 87% of entrepreneurs said they were optimistic about business opportunities.
These numbers highlight both the potential and the challenges: there’s a strong entrepreneurial spirit (especially among women), but many small businesses struggle to grow, and formal business formation is slowing.
How U.S. Companies Are Competing to Serve Solo Entrepreneurs
While solo entrepreneurship is growing in Nigeria, U.S. companies are aggressively targeting one-person (non-employer) businesses—and many of them are using AI to do it:
According to CNBC, there are 29.8 million solo entrepreneurs in the U.S., contributing more than US$1.7 trillion to the American economy.
Research from Gusto shows that many solopreneurs scale quickly: average revenue can exceed US$290,000 in the first year, and many make US$500,000+ by year five, thanks in part to automation and lean operations.
The number of million-dollar, one-person businesses is rising rapidly. Forbes reports that these ultra-lean companies are doubling year-on-year.
Startups in the U.S are building AI “agents” to serve small business needs. For example:
Affiniti (New York) raised US$17 million to create an “AI CFO” that handles financial operations for SMBs.
Artisan AI, a San Francisco company, builds autonomous AI agents to automate repetitive business tasks.
Big tech is also pushing in: Microsoft expanded its Copilot tool to support even solo entrepreneurs, making it easier to draft emails, organize tasks, and analyze documents with AI.
Why this matters: These U.S. companies are not just serving big corporations—they’re specifically building products for one-person businesses. By leveraging AI, they’re helping solopreneurs run more professionally, automate critical tasks, and free up time to focus on growth.
Implications for Nigerian Entrepreneurs
Accessibility: AI tools can help Nigerian solo business owners overcome infrastructure and resource constraints by providing automation at a low cost.
Competitive Edge: With AI, women-led and youth-led businesses in Nigeria can better compete—not only locally, but potentially in global markets.
Policy Opportunity: There is a clear case for policy makers and development partners to support AI adoption among MSMEs, especially those run by solo founders.
Global Linkages: As U.S. startups build AI tools for solo entrepreneurs, there’s an opportunity for partnerships, subscription models, or localized versions of those tools in Nigeria.
In Closing
AI offers a transformative opportunity for solo entrepreneurs, especially in challenging environments like Nigeria. Given that a large portion of Nigerian businesses are micro or small enterprises, and a substantial number are women-led, AI can level the playing field by reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and unlocking new growth pathways. Meanwhile, U.S.-based companies are already recognizing the value of supporting one-person businesses—and their innovations offer models that Nigerian entrepreneurs can tap into or adapt.
By combining the entrepreneurial resilience we see in Nigeria with smart, AI-powered tools, solo business owners can build scalable, sustainable ventures that defy traditional limitations.
Johnson Morrison Udobong
YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@johnsonudobong
Date: 28/11/2025
In the rapidly evolving world of the twenty-first century, the definition of empowerment has undergone a profound transformation. Once measured primarily through access to education, economic opportunity, or civic participation, empowerment today increasingly depends on one’s ability to navigate and harness the power of digital technology. From proving one’s identity online to building entire businesses through artificial intelligence tools, technology has become the gateway to participation in modern society. The capacity to connect, create, and contribute now depends less on geography or traditional social structures and more on digital competence. Thus, it is fair to say that real empowerment today is digital empowerment, and the urgency of this realization is especially pressing for women, who stand both to gain immensely and to lose significantly in the unfolding digital future.
Recent experiences across different sectors of society reveal how deeply technology is embedded in our everyday lives. Consider, for instance, the process of verifying one’s identity or eligibility for pensions and social benefits. Tasks that once required physical presence and manual documentation are now increasingly digitized. In one striking example, an elderly retiree was recently asked to confirm his status as living by participating in an online verification process that used advanced biometric recognition. He was instructed to move his eyes to follow a virtual ball on the screen — a process that confirmed both his physical presence and his identity in real time. What might once have seemed extraordinary has become a normal expectation in the administration of public services. Digital literacy, even for older adults, has thus become not merely a convenience but a necessity for inclusion.
The same technological transformation is evident in education. Examinations that were once confined to supervised classrooms are now conducted online, monitored by sophisticated systems capable of detecting movement, background noise, and even eye patterns. These tools are designed to ensure integrity and fairness, yet they also demonstrate how sensitive and intelligent digital systems have become. They monitor not just the data we enter but our behavior, our expressions, and our surroundings. In such a world, the ability to understand, adapt to, and ethically engage with technology is fundamental to success. Those who lack digital fluency risk being excluded not only from opportunity but from basic forms of participation.
Entrepreneurship provides another powerful illustration. Around the world, individuals are building solo businesses, consultancies, and creative enterprises powered by artificial intelligence and online tools. From AI-assisted design and content creation to automated customer management, entrepreneurs now have unprecedented access to resources that once required large teams or significant capital. Digital tools have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for one person — equipped with a computer, connectivity, and creativity — to build a global business. This democratization of opportunity is among the most significant shifts in modern economic history. Yet it also introduces new divides: between those who are equipped to use these tools and those who are not.
For women, this digital transformation presents both extraordinary promise and serious risk. Historically, women have faced barriers to education, technology access, and financial independence. Digital platforms can help bridge these gaps, offering flexible opportunities for learning, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Women can now access free online courses, market their skills globally, and collaborate across borders without leaving their homes. In many developing regions, digital financial services have given women control over income and savings for the first time. Artificial intelligence and automation can also reduce the burden of repetitive work, freeing time for innovation and growth.
However, these opportunities can only be realized through intentional empowerment. The digital revolution is not neutral — it reflects and can reinforce existing inequalities. Without access to devices, reliable internet, and relevant training, women risk being further marginalized. Moreover, bias in algorithms and data can perpetuate stereotypes and discrimination in subtle but harmful ways. Empowerment, therefore, requires more than connectivity; it demands awareness, skill-building, ethical frameworks, and inclusive design. True digital empowerment ensures that women are not merely users of technology but active shapers of it.
Governments, educational institutions, and civil society have a crucial role to play in this transformation. Public policy must promote universal digital access, affordable internet, and lifelong learning opportunities. Curricula at all levels should integrate digital literacy, not as a technical subject alone but as a foundational civic skill. For women and girls, targeted mentorship, scholarships, and community-based training programs are essential. Encouraging female participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields must remain a priority, as must supporting women-led startups and innovation hubs. When women participate equally in designing and governing technology, societies benefit from more diverse perspectives and more equitable outcomes.
At the same time, individuals must recognize their own responsibility in embracing digital empowerment. The world is changing too fast for complacency. Whether one is a professional, a student, a retiree, or a small business owner, continuous learning has become the new normal. Digital tools evolve daily, and adaptability is the defining skill of the era. Even simple interactions — like video calls, online payments, or secure authentication — are part of a larger digital ecosystem that shapes our identities and opportunities. Ignoring this transformation is no longer an option; participation is mandatory for relevance.
The ethical dimensions of this transformation also demand attention. As surveillance, data collection, and artificial intelligence become pervasive, societies must balance efficiency with privacy and rights. Digital empowerment must include the ability to protect one’s information, understand consent, and critically evaluate online content. Empowered digital citizens are not just technologically capable — they are also informed, discerning, and responsible. For women, who are often targeted by online harassment or misinformation, digital safety is a core component of empowerment. Building a culture of respect and accountability online is therefore essential for equality.
Ultimately, the convergence of technology and human potential is shaping a new kind of society — one in which access to the digital world determines access to power itself. The phrase “real empowerment today is digital empowerment” captures this truth succinctly. It reminds us that empowerment is no longer merely about rights or resources in the physical world; it is about agency, competence, and inclusion in the digital one. Every online identity verification, every virtual examination, every AI-assisted enterprise is part of a larger story of transformation — one that will define who participates in the future economy, who influences culture, and who leads.
As we look ahead, one thing is certain: no one can escape what is to come. Technology will continue to advance, integrating deeper into our personal, professional, and civic lives. The choice before us is whether to be passive observers or active participants in shaping that future. Digital empowerment is the means by which individuals — and especially women — can claim their rightful place in the next chapter of human progress. The tools are available; the challenge is ensuring that everyone has the knowledge, access, and confidence to use them. In the digital age, empowerment is not given — it is learned, earned, and shared.
Johnson Morrison Udobong
YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@johnsonudobong
Date: 09/11/2025
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign held annually from November 25th to December 10th, aimed at mobilizing individuals, institutions, governments, and communities to end violence against women and girls. The 2025 theme, “Protecting Girls from Online Digital Abuse,” recognizes the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and emphasizes the need to make digital spaces safe for women and girls. Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have, unfortunately, facilitated TFGBV by enabling automated harassment, deepfake creation, targeted online exploitation, and surveillance, making digital abuse more pervasive and harder to detect.
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence refers to harmful acts carried out using digital platforms, communication devices, or online systems. Although digital tools have opened opportunities for girls in education, communication, business, and leadership, they have also become spaces where harassment, intimidation, exploitation, and abuse occur. The image provided helps explain this issue by breaking it into several interconnected parts: perpetrator motivation, intent, behaviors, relationship context, mode, frequency, tactics, and the effects on survivors. These elements help us understand how digital abuse happens and why protecting girls online has become a major global priority.
1. Perpetrator Motivation – Why Online Abuse Happens
The picture identifies many motivations that drive perpetrators, and these motivations align directly with the realities of online abuse today. These include:
• Jealousy
• Revenge
• Anger
• Sexual desire or entitlement
• Political influence
• Desire to maintain control or dominance
• Financial gain
• Defending social norms or reputation
These motives show that online abuse is rarely accidental. A boyfriend may post private images of a girl to punish her for ending a relationship. Anonymous strangers may attack a girl online for expressing political views. Influential groups may organize harassment campaigns to silence women who challenge societal expectations.
At the center of these motivations is power and control, the same root cause of traditional gender-based violence. The 2025 16 Days theme recognizes that if these motivations are not challenged, digital spaces will continue to mirror the inequality and discrimination that women face in society.
2. Perpetrator Intent – What They Are Trying to Achieve
According to the image, perpetrators may intend to:
• Cause psychological harm
• Cause physical harm
• Control, punish, or silence women
• Achieve social or personal goals
• Enforce cultural or gender norms
In many cases, abusers want to send a message: girls should stay silent, be submissive, avoid public spaces, or not challenge men’s dominance. Digital abuse is therefore not just personal—it is often an attempt to restrict girls’ freedoms. Linking this to the 2025 campaign, protecting girls online means ensuring that digital spaces do not become tools for reinforcing old systems of oppression.
3. Behaviors – How Digital Abuse Appears in Real Life
The picture presents several behaviors through which online abuse manifests:
• Stalking and monitoring
• Defamation
• Bullying and harassment
• Sexual harassment
• Online exploitation
• Hate speech
These behaviors can happen through:
• Social media posts and comments
• Private messages
• Fake accounts
• Edited or manipulated images
• Public forums
• Blogs or websites
For example, a girl outspoken about women’s rights may find hundreds of insulting comments targeting her gender, appearance, family, or sexuality. A student may be harassed on WhatsApp groups. A teenage girl may face pressure from older men sending sexual messages. These behaviors are designed to weaken self-confidence, damage reputation, and create fear.
4. Mode – Where the Abuse Takes Place
The image lists multiple digital spaces where abuse can happen:
• Social networking platforms
• Communication tools (SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger)
• Dating platforms
• Online search histories
• Browsing activities
• Emails
• Gaming spaces
Digital abuse is harder to escape because girls use many of these platforms daily. The focus of the 2025 16 Days theme is to ensure that all digital platforms—from schools to workplaces to social media—become supportive environments where girls can speak freely without fear.
5. Relationship – Who Commits the Abuse
The diagram identifies different relationship types:
• Personal – partners, ex-partners, relatives, classmates, colleagues
• Impersonal – strangers, anonymous users, trolls
• Institutional – organizations, political groups, authorities
This means girls are not only at risk from strangers online. A controlling boyfriend might monitor a girl’s conversations; a schoolmate might start a rumor online; an online mob may target a girl for posting her views. The 2025 theme emphasizes that systems must be built not just to punish strangers online but also to prevent abuse from people girls know and trust.
6. Frequency – How Often It Happens
Digital abuse may be:
• One-off
• Constant
• Daily
• Occasional
• Cyclic
• Escalating
Because technology is always with us—on phones, tablets, and computers—abuse can become 24/7, removing the safety that victims might have offline. The constant nature of digital abuse contributes heavily to trauma and emotional exhaustion, another reason global action is needed.
7. Cross-Cutting Tactics
The image identifies dangerous tactics often used in online violence:
• Doxxing – sharing private information
• Threats
• Gender-based trolling
• Impersonation
• Image-based
• Unauthorized access (hacking)
These tactics can destroy reputations, end relationships, threaten careers, and push girls out of public spaces. When someone shares a girl’s home address or sexually explicit images, the violence becomes not just psychological but physical and social. Tackling these tactics is key to the 2025 theme because many existing laws still do not adequately punish online offenders.
8. Impact on Girls and Women
The image shows four major categories of impact:
a. Psychological
• Fear
• Depression
• Shame
• Trauma
• Anxiety
• Low confidence
Online abuse can make girls afraid to speak, learn, or participate online, limiting opportunities for leadership and expression.
b. Physical
There is often a link between online and offline harm. Stalking, monitoring, and doxxing can lead to real-world attacks. Girls may change their routines, feel unsafe at school, or live in constant fear.
c. Social
Abuse can damage:
• Friendships
• Family relationships
• School reputation
• Community respect
In many societies, girls face victim-blaming, further hurting their mental health and isolation.
d. Economic and Functional
TFGBV can lead to:
• Loss of digital participation
• Decreased academic performance
• Lost business opportunities
• Withdrawal from public life
If a girl stops using digital tools out of fear, she loses opportunities in education, employment, and social development. This is why the 2025 theme highlights digital participation as a right, not a privilege.
9. Coping and Help-Seeking
Survivors adopt several coping strategies:
• Reporting abuse
• Adjusting privacy settings
• Seeking emotional support
• Confronting perpetrators
• Avoiding online platforms entirely
Unfortunately, withdrawal is the most common response, and that is exactly what perpetrators want—silence. The 2025 campaign calls on society to ensure that the burden does not fall on the girl alone, but that:
• Institutions respond quickly
• Laws protect victims
• Social platforms act responsibly
• Communities stand with survivors
Closing Remark
The 2025 16 Days of Activism theme, “Protecting Girls from Online Digital Abuse,” recognizes that TFGBV is not about technology—it is about power, control, and inequality. The picture helps us see online violence clearly: from the motivations of perpetrators, to the tactics they use, to the emotional, social, and economic harm girls experience. While AI and other digital tools can empower girls through education and connection, they can also be misused to facilitate harassment, deepfakes, and targeted abuse. For digital spaces to truly empower girls, they must first be safe. Ending online abuse requires stronger policies, digital education, accountability systems, and a culture that supports and protects girls—not one that punishes them for speaking up.
Johnson Morrison Udobong
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@johnsonudobong
Date: 19/11/2025