Times are changing, at this age of economic downturn, women have become the vital weapons to the survival of their families and the development of the nation. This study is based on conceptual and theoretical research conducted by academic scholars. It deals with the notion that female entrepreneurs have peculiar capabilities, skills and abilities which if tapped into, can cause a positive development in the growth of SMEs and the economy at large. Based on this fact, the following investigation is undertaken, whose objective is to analyse the aspects that influence the entrepreneurship of women, to identify what factors influences the creation and development of business that they embark on, the challenges they face in respect to gender inequality and their contribution to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Keywords : Women Entrepreneurs, Economy, SMEs, Gender, Growth.