Wunmi Akinlosotu is a Pan-African market access strategist, ecosystem builder, speaker, and founder committed to creating pathways for
women-led and growth-ready businesses to access markets, partnerships, visibility, and trade opportunities across Africa and the diaspora.
https://www.digital.zenithbank.com/ZEQ/ZEQ-jan-2026/index.html#p=1With a background in Management and Accounting, an MBA, and over two decades of leadership experience across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, Wunmi’s career has evolved across business strategy, leadership development, entrepreneurship, women’s advancement, and international market access.
In furtherance of her philosophy, which states that, “Africa is full of opportunity. The problem has never been the opportunity. It’s always been the access.” She founded and leads various initiatives such as The Blooming Hub, and Blooming Ladies®. She is equally the Convener of the Gateway Africa Series. Her work sits at the intersection of trade, enterprise development, diaspora engagement, and inclusive economic growth. Through her platforms, she helps entrepreneurs, organisations, and institutions move from potential to visibility, and from visibility to meaningful market opportunity.
One of Wunmi Akinlosotu’s most significant initiatives is Gateway Africa, a trade, market access, and enterprise visibility platform
designed to connect African and diaspora businesses with buyers, investors, institutions, financiers, and strategic partners.
Gateway Africa was created to address a critical gap: many women-led and growth-ready businesses have strong products and services but lack structured access to credible markets, cross-border networks, institutional support, and transaction-focused opportunities. The
platform provides a practical bridge between enterprise potential and real market access through curated trade immersions, business showcases, B2B matchmaking, ecosystem engagements, policy conversations, and diaspora-focused programmes.
The initiative began with Gateway Ghana, a proof-of-concept trade immersion held in March 2026. The programme connected entrepreneurs with key institutions and ecosystem players, including chambers of commerce, investment promotion agencies, business registration bodies, trade institutions, local enterprises, and market actors. It provided participants with practical exposure to Ghana’s business environment,
trade ecosystem, regulatory landscape, and partnership opportunities.
Building on the momentum of Gateway Ghana, Wunmi is currently leading Gateway Nigeria, a larger market access platform scheduled for Lagos in September 2026. Gateway Nigeria is designed to bring together exhibitors, buyers, investors, government agencies, development
institutions, diaspora stakeholders, and private-sector partners through a trade show, business immersion, exhibitor readiness support, B2B
meetings, and institutional engagement.
What distinguishes Gateway Africa is its integrated approach. It is not simply an event or networking platform; it is a structured access platform designed to prepare businesses, increase their visibility, connect them to credible opportunities, and position them for trade,
investment, and long-term growth.
Through Gateway Africa, Wunmi is building an ecosystem where African and diaspora entrepreneurs, particularly women-led businesses, can move beyond inspiration into practical market participation.
Wunmi believes that the cost of waiting is always higher than the cost of moving, let her move your entrepreneurial journey forward!
