Purpose: This study expands on existing literature by exploring characteristics of female social entrepreneurs, their motivational factors, the challenges they face, and the needed support system in the Nigerian context. Design/methodology/approach: A purposive sampling technique was used to select 11 female social entrepreneurs for the qualitative case study design. The respondents were interviewed, and the data was recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis was carried out to reduce the responses into themes. Findings: Female social entrepreneurs in Nigeria possess a combination of integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurial traits like knowledge, ambition, and leadership. Their motivations include a primary focus on income and financial stability, coupled with a strong desire to help others, drive societal and community change, and tackle issues like unemployment. Notably, many are motivated by empowering their families and fellow women. Independence plays a significant role in their motivation, manifesting as a desire for flexibility and control over their lives, particularly for mothers. They also draw motivation from societal acceptance, success, appreciation, and respect. Challenges they face include funding limitations, market dynamics, and infrastructure issues common to social entrepreneurs, alongside gender-specific obstacles like inequality and self-confidence issues. Desired support includes funding, improved infrastructure, and gender equality enforcement, with less emphasis on education and training, likely due to their existing entrepreneurial activities. Research limitations/implications: The research has several limitations. Firstly, it is based on a small sample size of only 11 female social entrepreneurs in Nigeria, which may not fully capture the diversity of experiences in this field. Secondly, the findings are specific to the Nigerian context and may not be applicable to other regions or countries with different cultural and economic conditions. Thirdly, the qualitative nature of the research limits its generalizability, as it relies on subjective responses from interviewees. Additionally, the use of purposive sampling may introduce bias, and the cross-sectional data provides only a snapshot, lacking insights into how these entrepreneurs may change over time. Practical implications: The study highlights the need to address gender-specific challenges faced by female social entrepreneurs in Nigeria, such as gender inequality and self-confidence issues. To address these challenges, policymakers, NGOs, and business associations should prioritize initiatives that challenge traditional norms and provide training programs. Social implications: The research emphasizes the importance of addressing gender biases, promoting gender equality, and providing targeted support to empower women in entrepreneurship, which can have far-reaching positive social implications for Nigerian society. Originality/value: This paper enhances our understanding of female social entrepreneurship in the Nigerian context and provides valuable insights into the interplay between entrepreneurship, social leadership, and gender-related obstacles. It also has implications for future research in social entrepreneurship, particularly regarding gender dynamics and socio-cultural influences in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]