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Tag: SheVentures

  • SheVentures partners alliance to empower women entrepreneurs

    SheVentures partners alliance to empower women entrepreneurs

    SheVentures, women-banking arm of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has signed a strategic partnership with Women Enterprise Alliance (WENA) to support growth and sustainability of                                                                 women-led businesses in Northcentral.

    The signing, at Women Enterprise Alliance headoffice in Abuja, is the beginning of a high-impact collaboration to empower over 150 women-led SMEs across local, state, and regional levels, through access to finance, market opportunities, capacity building, and enterprise development.

    As part of the initiative, the top three SMEs will get grants of up to N5 million from selected investors and partners.

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    Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, group head of SheVentures at FCMB, noted: “This partnership reflects our commitment to unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. At SheVentures, we believe empowering women economically is one of the fastest ways to drive inclusive growth and community development. Together with WENA, we will ensure women in Northcentral have the funds, tools, skills, and exposure to thrive.”

    Florence Onwumere, head of Organisation and Programmes at WENA, said: “We are excited to work with SheVentures, a brand that aligns with our mission of uplifting women entrepreneurs. With this collaboration, we are expanding access to critical resources and shaping next generation of business leaders in underserved regions of Nigeria.”

    This reinforces the shared vision to drive inclusive growth, and is a new chapter for female-led businesses in Nigeria.

  • SheVentures launches interest-free loans for female exporters

    SheVentures launches interest-free loans for female exporters

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has launched the SheVentures Export Readiness Programme, a new initiative to support women-owned businesses in Nigeria looking to expand into global markets.

    The programme will give participants access to insightful knowledge, focused advisory, and zero-interest loans to fund their export trade logistics.

    “Our mission with the SheVentures Export Readiness Programme is to support women-owned businesses to export their products and services worldwide,” said Mrs. Yemisi Edun, Managing Director of FCMB.

    “We provide interest-free loans, training, and mentoring to help overcome common challenges such as lack of financial resources and knowledge gap. Our ultimate goal is to empower Nigerian SMEs to scale beyond their local markets by connecting them with other businesses globally and leveraging the vast opportunities of globalization.”

    The SheVentures Export Readiness Program is open to all women-owned SMEs in Nigeria who are interested in reaching new markets and growing their businesses.

    The programme will include a series of training modules on topics such as export market research, product development and export documentation. Participants will also have the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring from experienced exporters.

    “Nigerian businesswomen face many challenges in their quest to grow successful businesses,” said Ms. Yetunde Moito, Head of Women in Business (SheVentures) at FCMB.

    “That is why FCMB is giving added support to businesswomen who own or run a business in Nigeria, providing the support they need to thrive.

    “The SheVentures Export Readiness Programme is a game-changer for Nigerian women entrepreneurs, empowering them to scale globally and bridge the capacity and financial gap hindering their full potential.”

    A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that over 41 million SMEs operate in Nigeria, of which women own 40%.

    Women’s businesses are expected to create 8.9 million jobs in the next five years, contributing significantly to the country’s economy.

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    This indicates the significant role women can play in the growth and development of the Nigerian economy if provided with the proper funding, capacity building, networking, and other opportunities.

    FCMB SheVentures has, over the past four years, impacted the female economy through its various initiatives for women SMEs. The Bank has offered up to One Billion Naira in zero-interest loans to hundreds of women SMEs nationwide and supported thousands of female entrepreneurs through free training, mentorship, and capacity-building programs.

    The SheVentures Export Readiness Programme strategically aligns with the government’s efforts to boost the nation’s non-oil exports and foreign exchange earnings. The program empowers women entrepreneurs to actively contribute to realizing this important national goal.