As part of efforts to support women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), NerdzFactory Foundation, in collaboration with Access Corporation, has empowered women-owned businesses through digital technology, branding, and tips on how to leverage the internet for business growth.
The partnership has also impacted over 1,500 women through webinars, boot camps and summits – Women Digital Entrepreneurship Program (WDEP) – which equipped women with the necessary skills, information, and resources to start, grow and monetise their online businesses.
Founder of EkoCrib, Boma Agina-Obu, urged entrepreneurs to ensure excellence at the beginning of their businesses ‘as it will determine the lifespan of any business’. She noted the delivery of value and impact should be a priority as delivering value brings profit as the business grows.
Serial Entrepreneur Olaronke Oni also advised entrepreneurs to ensure competence and niche down in their business ‘as these are metrics to get the right value for services rendered or products sold’.
Head of Business, NerdzFactory Foundation, Prince Chigbundu, while highlighting the critical stage the country is, lamented that the number of unemployed youths exceed the number of available economic opportunities
“We have to be deliberate in equipping young people, especially the women in Nigeria to enable them thrive both in Nigeria and anywhere around the world,” he added
The WDEP summit also held the final grant pitch competition with 99 entries, and the top 10 businesses had the 1st phase of the grant pitch before the summit, while the top five entrepreneurs presented their business ideas during the event.
From the grant pitch session, three entrepreneurs emerged winners – Titilayo Olaniyan (GVK Integrated Services Limited); Agnes Benedict (Call for Gas Limited); and Yakub Ganiyat-Folusho (Neeyahs-farms).
First, second and third winners won cash prizes of N250,000, N150,000, and N100,000 respectively.