The Nation Newspaper

Tag: women

  • ‘We need affirmative finance action for women’

    ‘We need affirmative finance action for women’

    Afoma Adigwe studied film and acting in London but today she is a woman of many parts. The energetic entrepreneur had been an air hostess, actress, designer and she has been passionate about empowering women through her organisation, Uplifting Women Through Farming (UWTF), in the last fifteen years. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the woman who hails from Issele-Uku in Delta State talks about  poor infrastructure, accessing credit facilities for women in the grassroots and why feeding Nigeria and Africa must be given adequate priority.

    WHY are you interested in the agricultural sector? My passion has always been for women in agriculture. For me, food is life. We all eat food and we must eat to survive.  Agriculture is the only viable alternative to oil and gas. A lot has been said about agricultural development in Africa.  Recently, my organisation was invited to partner with African Development Bank from the just concluded high level conference in Senegal tagged, “Feeding Africa: an action plan on transformation of agriculture in Africa” organised by African Development Bank under the auspices of His Excellency, Macky Sall, President of the Federal Republic of Senegal, who co-hosted with the African Union Commission, UN Economic Commission for Africa and Partnership.

    Why are you passionate about women?

    Over the years, a lot has been said about the key constraints affecting women and youths’ ability in transforming agriculture in Africa. UWTF is here to walk the talk with action. I speak on behalf of our women and our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow. Our focus is not to criticise but to encourage our government and other African countries by reaching out to the different stakeholders. We are in partnership with African Development Bank and the organisation is ready to take a quick action on the solutions of transforming agriculture in Africa to the next level. The Dakar conference was marked by bold decisions to inform on the Action Plan for agricultural transformation in Africa.

    What are some of the things that would bring about the required change in the sector?

    The intention is to launch an affirmative finance action for women in Africa. The bank would therefore work with partners to leverage 43billion in financing for women farmers, agribusinesses and other women-owned enterprises. This will be achieved through the establishment of a US $300 million facility to derisk financing to women owned businesses by commercial banks and micro finance institutions.

    In addition, the central banks in Africa will set aside special funds to allow farmers access credit at reduced interest rates and also for long term agricultural loans with longer term maturity. There would also be increase in commercial financing in the agriculture sector by establishing an agricultural risk sharing facility to de-risk the financial value chain and de-risk the agricultural value chains across the continent. That is not all. Some of the other things being worked on include developing agribusiness Diaspora bonds to securitise remittance flows for investments in African agriculture and agribusiness.

    How long have you been doing this?

    I have been on this for about fifteen years now. When I started at that time, I told them that it was the alternative to oil and gas. Now you can see the trend, not just in Nigeria but in Arica as a whole. It is important to uplift women through farming. It is important for each stakeholder to partner with the African Development Bank on the transformation agenda. We need to find a lasting solution to agriculture and stop doing lip service to it, now it is action.

    My desire is to wake up everybody and I have been advocating that our first ladies should have agriculture as part of the projects they would be working on. A lot of times funds are released for women’s projects but somehow the women do not have access to these funds. I strongly believe that it is better for the women to work together and be able to access what would be beneficial to all.

    The problem that grassroots farmers have is lack of information. This, I have studied in the last fifteen years. Of course, we know that the other problem is lack of fund, but, unfortunately, if there is a fund set aside somewhere and I do not know about, how can they access the funds? So, the women are handicapped, most of them do not go to the bank and when they go to the bank, there are so many other limitations waiting for them there.

    We know the protocols in the bank. If someone like me cannot get to access the fund, how can the layman access the funds? So, we have to go to the women at the grassroots and solve their developmental needs. Sometimes, these women do not even need the funds. What they need is the facility to work with or infrastructure. When we talk about infrastructure, then we are talking about road, water, land, transportation and electricity. If you give them funds and they pay so much to transport their goods from one point to the other, then they would still not be okay.

    We also know what it takes for a woman to own land or property in some parts of the country. Unfortunately, these are some of the things that they ask for as collateral. In the banking system, there is nothing like self identification, so where do these women stand? So, my fight for women has always been how can these women have collateral or be able to access the funds that are set aside for them? We all have to solve this problem collectively. Government must make sure that the right infrastructure is in place.

    How do you intend to get to your targets?

    I am also targeting not just first ladies in Nigeria but African first ladies, so that all hands would be on deck. Right now, we are planning a summit to get all the African first ladies together; everybody has to wake up. We are also looking at the corporate sector and CEOs of banks and their spouses. If you cannot plant what your husband is eating, farm and produce for Nigeria, plant and produce for Africa.  We must all try to produce for Nigeria and bring about a positive change in the economy. If banks can set aside some staff to go look for deposits, how come they cannot go to the grassroots and look for investments?

    Experts also believe that farming would help to reduce the problem of unemployment in the country

    Agriculture has to go with patience; our youths have to be patient. If you are talking about agriculture, you do not have to grow something today and expect to get the money immediately. We have to start afresh. I was born and bred in Lagos, but now I am back at home because of farming. I have a palm plantation there. We have to take action and get things back on track. A number of people think that it is not interesting but we can learn new ways of framing. How can we do it these days so that our mothers do not carry fire wood on their heads or cassava on their backs?

    I started the program in Delta state in year 2000. The first thing I did a workshop on how to make use of cassava and we collaborated with IITA. The following year we work with FAO and later the UN. That was how we started working with women in Kogi state and then spread to other parts of the country. We have been able to access funds from the Nigerian Industrial bank for microfinance.

    Recently, I have been putting my house in order to set up a microfinance bank for women. I have always had a relationship with the international community but I prefer to have a bank which the women can access directly. We also have the Agric talk show which I would be anchoring. Here we would have the stakeholders talk about the issues and how to proffer solutions to the problems. What I did was to get people attracted to Agriculture. I have also been doing a number of things with the youths. I have also been collaborating with Embassies and agencies. Let us rise and feed Africa.

  • Emmanuel’s wife advises women to be steadfast

    The Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo was   filled to capacity as Akwa-Ibom State women converged for their monthly prayer meeting. The prayers meant to intercede for a better Akwa-Ibom State had the theme “Breaking the Barriers.”

    Addressing the women at the event, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel appreciated God for His continued benevolence on the state, saying “today is a day of joy; a day of celebration. God has never disappointed His children and He will not. When He opens the door, no man can shut it, all barriers, hindrances and obstacles in our lives and that of the state have been broken.”

    Mrs. Emmanuel further urged the women not to depend on their strength for victory, saying they should put on the armour of God. She added that if they had depended on their strength and might, they would have failed in their endeavours. She said God being the Supreme Being, knows everything about us and he expects us to submit and yield to Him. Mrs Emmanuel also said that Akwa-Ibom State has been consecrated by God for good and as such, no man can hinder her progress.

    The Governor’s wife called on the women to desist from making unguarded statements that could affect the unity of the state, saying any person that fails to repent may have herself to blame because the Governor is determined to unite and build a prosperous state for all. Mrs. Emmanuel informed the women that from the month of November, she will embark on tour oflocal government areas with the aim to interact and empower women.

    She also called on the women to take advantage of government’s free medical programmes, stating that soon screening centres for breast and cervical cancer will be established in all the federal constituencies in the state to help women detect and manage themselves well.

    In her exhortation earlier, Rev. Mercy Ugbah advised the women to chart a new course for their lives. Reading from Exodus 14:8, Rev. Ugbah said every hindrance and obstacles that could have impeded the progress of the state have been broken, stressing that the same God of yesterday is still alive and doing wonders.

    She admonished the women to remain steadfast with God as He was about to perform miracles in their lives. Special prayers were offered for peace in the 31 local government areas of the state.

    Prayers were also offered for the government at the federal and state levels as well as for the governor and his wife.

    Those in attendance were the wife of former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Atim Okpoyo, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet and wife of the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Lady Gloria Umoren. Others were member representing Okobo State Constituency, Hon. Felicia Bassey, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women leader, Mrs. Glory Effiong, wives of legislators, wives of commissioners, female permanent secretaries and female transition chairmen, and a host of others.

     

     

  • Buhari not shy around women – Presidency

    The Presidency has dismissed the claim by one Gideon Samani that President Muhammadu Buhari is shy around women.

    According to NAN, a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, described the claim, which was published by a national newspaper on Friday, as “totally fallacious.’’

    It stated that the subsequent attribution of the supposedly “low number’’ of female ministerial nominees to President Buhari’s alleged shyness around women was baseless and a figment of the imagination of the said Samani, who was falsely described as the “Senior Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the President.’’

    According to the statement, the assertion by the alleged presidential aide that Buhari is “very shy dealing with the opposite sex’’ because “he has been interacting mostly with men’’, was received by the President with shock and consternation.

    “For one thing, there is no Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters, in the office of the President for now and Mr. Samani who was said to have spoken as the Representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at a public function yesterday, is not an aide of the President.

    “Samani is certainly not an official spokesman of the President. Therefore, he could not have spoken on behalf of President Buhari, who is the President of all Nigerians, men and women alike.

    “President Buhari has a wife, many daughters and female relatives whom he loves dearly.

    “He also had a mother that he adored. How then could he be shy in the company of women, to the point of allegedly not appointing them into public offices, on account of not being comfortable in their company? ‘’

    The statement, therefore, maintained that Buhari would continue to hold Nigerian women in the highest esteem and would always give them due consideration in the discharge of his official responsibilities.

    “The statements attributed to Samani are untrue and unauthorized. They should therefore be disregarded,’’ the statement.

     

  • Women group urges youths to take up agric careers

    Women group urges youths to take up agric careers

    An organisation, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has held a career-counselling for youths in Abia State, urging them to take up careers in agriculture.

    The event was held in conjunction with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, (MOUAU) Demonstration Secondary School.

    No fewer than 176  SS1 and SS2 students of  the school attanded.

    Speaking during the counselling in Umuahia, a fellow of AWARD, Dr. Chinelo Ezeocha said that the event was organised to ensure that the youths of the state are encouraged to return to agriculture.

    Ezeocha recalled that agriculture in the 1960s was the economic back bone of the state and that many of the infrastructural development of the state were done through the revenue generated from agriculture.

    She recalled that there are several farm settlements scattered across the state and that they have been wasting away, “There is need for them to be revived and made habitable for the teeming youths of the state to be fully engaged”.

    The lecturer in food science department of MOUAU said that there is a sharp decline in the number of youths that go into agriculture as a career, stressing that there is need for the trend to be reversed.

    She explained that the youths going into agriculture will ensure food security, job opportunities and also help to reduce youth restiveness in the state, while crime rate will be reduced to the lowest level.

    Ezeocha regretted that the youths in the state are finding it hard to take up agriculture as a career, “They [children] are complaining that agriculture is a hard profession bearing in mind that many people are still using obsolete equipment to farm.”

    She called on state and federal governments to provide modern day equipment so that the youths will be willing and encouraged to go in to agriculture for the good of the people of the country and also ensure food security.

    The food science lecturer said that agriculture does not mean only food production, “It includes cash crops like cocoa, rubber, cashew, oil palm and many others which if well managed will ensure increase in revenue generation for the youths”.

    Ezeocha said that youths should never shy award from agriculture, stressing that agriculture does not require custom men harassing them as they would in the other way round export the excess produce to the outside world.

     

  • Enugu women protest herdsmen’s ‘menace’

    Over 20 women from four local governments in Enugu State have urged the state government to prevail on Fulani herdsmen to keep their cattle away from their farms.

    The women who represented the Anglican Diocese of Enugu North comprising Enugu North, Enugu East, Udi and Ezeagu,  alleged that the herdsmen also rape women and kill while their herds destroy crops.

    The women made the call during a peaceful demonstration at the state House of Assembly.

    Leader of the group, Mrs Achogaonye Eze said the herdsmen should be stopped for the sake of security.

    Eze who is the wife of Bishop Sustenance Eze of Enugu North Anglican Diocese, pointed out that apart from raping women and killing people in the communities, the herdsmen also rob and kidnap people.

    She lamented that they are helpless because they had complained to the law enforcement agencies to no avail.

    She disclosed that people are now afraid to go to the farm unless they are in groups for fear of rape or outright killing and recounted their ordeal thus:

    “They have butchered two men who tried to confront them; they rape women and destroy their crops.

    “They pretend to be selling bush meat and when you stop over to buy, their gang will come out of the bush and rob you of your belonging.

    “They are now wielding AK 47 guns at villagers who confront them and since the vigilantes do not have such sophisticated weapons they withdraw,” she enumerates and posted that they should be asked to vacate Enugu State for good.

    “Our people are molested, they feel that they own the land. If we don’t stop them, they may rape your own wives,” she avers.

    The demonstrating women carried placards that read in parts, “Fulani herdsmen kill our men with AK 47”, “All we are saying is, Fulani, leave our farmlands”, “They butchered two men at Eke, stop robbing us at the high ways, etc.”

  • Foundation trains 2,000 women on skills

    Foundation trains 2,000 women on skills

    There was excitement among the inhabitants of the ancient city of Badagry as they came out in droves to receive training in various skills. The Prime Women Builders Foundation of Nigeria (PWOBFON) had visited the town with its empowerment programme.

    At the event entitled, “An Enterprising Heart,” over 2,000 people, mostly women were trained in vocational and skill acquisition schemes.

    Apparently eager to break loose from the shackles of poverty, house wives;

    pregnant women; nursing mothers; school leavers and unemployed youths participated in the PWOBFON’s 2015 empowerment day.

    The early morning downpour did not deter the beneficiaries as they trooped to the local government council headquarters, Ajala, Badagry from different locations as early as 7:00 a.m., to be part of the one-day event which began with seminars in which the participants were taken through various vocational trainings.

    Focal points of the first segment were training on tailoring; soap making; wireworks; cake baking/icing; ankara designing; barbeque; household items; popcorn production; headgear knotting; bleach making; air freshener production and computer training, among others.

    The participants later came together for the second session of the programme which involved lectures and presentations by representatives of the participating companies who also educated the trainees on how to start their own businesses as agents and distributors of different products.

    This was followed by lectures by business management experts who took the participants on entrepreneurial spirit.

    Some of the major players in the manufacturing sector that participated in the event commended the organisers for their vision and commitment to poverty reduction and women empowerment. They also pledged their willingness to partner PWOBFON in its resolve to alleviate poverty among the people.

    For instance, Lucky Fibres Plc, makers of Nobel rugs and carpets, praised the foundation for its vision, promising to do business with the women. It equally assured the participants that with N25, 000, they could do business with the company from their homes.

    Other organisations that participated in this year’s empowerment day were Honeywell Flour Mill Plc; May &Baker’s Lily Water; Ozone Hair Relaxer; Klin Soap; Nipen Bic and Rite Foods, among others.

    Over the years, PWOBFON had been rotating its annual empowerment day to different areas of Lagos State. Councils such as Ikeja, Alimosho, Ikorodu and Badagry had benefitted from previous programmes of the foundation.

    •Mrs. Olofinkua addressing the participants
    •Mrs. Olofinkua addressing the participants

    The National President of PWOBFON, Mrs. Kemi Olofinkua expressed the intention of the foundation to extend the empowerment programme to other states of the federation.

    Fielding questions from journalists on the sideline of the event, Olofinkua called for concerted efforts towards poverty reduction in the society, warning that the current poverty situation in Nigeria portends grave danger to the country.

    She argued that collaboration among government, individuals and organisations was necessary in reducing the rising poverty level in the society, stressing that some men have also benefitted from the foundation’s scheme.

    “In the past years, we have seen men coming to our empowerment programmes; we don’t want to be seen as gender-partial. So, we decided to go on with the computer hardware training. It has been good because people are giving testimonies about this programme,” she said.

    Obviously elated by the success of the event, Mrs. Olofinkua commended the beneficiaries for their zeal and determination to creep out of the poverty ditch by embracing the training in their thousands.

    She said: “Today’s event is quite different from what we have been having in the past. It is quite different because for the first time, we saw great zeal among the participants. We ended the vocational training and started the second part which is the corporate session, yet the people refused to leave the vocational training.

    “And for the first time, I saw some children being desirous to do things by themselves. We witnessed a little child exhibiting creativity and the ability to do beadwork, I was impressed and I have promised them that we will come back to this local government to encourage them to realise that they can no longer rely on white collar jobs for their financial future.

    “Younger children that are less that 15 years old indicated interest in learning so many crafts such as bead making, shawama and other skills.

    It really elated my heart. The turnout was great; people came all the way from Ikorodu and other locations to participate in the programme. People really need this empowerment.

    “They need to be talked to, they need to be trained. We have done it in different local governments and each time we go out, we see people trooping out to be part of the programme.

    “For example, people gathered here before the scheduled time thereby demonstrating their willingness to learn how to break away from poverty which is holding them down.

    The PWOBFON’s boss said the foundation has been sponsoring the annual empowerment project solely despite the huge financial implications, stressing that she is being driven by the passion to see women empowered.  She urged the various tiers of government to take poverty alleviation seriously for the good of the society. Mrs. Olofinkua said she was satisfied in what she is doing for the good of the society notwithstanding the financial constraint.

    “Only God has been sustaining this empowerment programme. With the exception of this year, for the past seven years, I have been writing the governments each year concerning this programme but there hasn’t been any positive response. But we are not bothered about this.

    “Government should realise that people actually need this empowerment. We have been using our money to fund this project but we are not tired. This is an annual programme and I am already thinking about the next year’s event.

    “We have gotten an invitation to do vocational training in secondary school for the students. So, we are already thinking about how to catch these children young. Also, we are targeting the professionals who have indicated interest in this training. The vision is expanding and we are happy doing what we are doing.”

    One of the resource persons, Mr. Lanre Da-silva, praised the foundation and commended Mrs. Olofinkua for her determination to pull many people out of the poverty line.

    Da-silver said: “Each time I come, I sincerely wonder how she gets the crowd because the people keep coming. I have been with her to Ikeja Local Government Area; I have been with her to Alimosho Local Government Area and Ikorodu Local Government Area and now in Badagry and the people keep coming. That tells me that many people in the society need empowerment. It is an indication that so many people live below the poverty line and all they need to come up and get a regular income is just to tell them the right things to do.

    “Many women and young people keep coming to this event, so I am not surprised. She (Mrs. Olofinkua) is passionate with what she is doing and I wish that the corporate organisations should partner this woman in what she is doing as part of their own corporate social responsibilities where they can add value to the lives of these women in a small way.”

    One of the PWOBFON advisers, Rev. Emmanuel Olofinkua praised God for sustaining the programme since its inception seven years ago. According to him, the event was the expression of the desires and vision which God has laid in the heart of the organisers towards the people.

    “It is a thing of joy. But it is highly taxing because the work that we are doing is not something that we are paid by somebody or a venture that we are paid back. Again, many of the people that we used for this programme are volunteers; we thank God for those that He has used to make this vocational training a huge success,” he said.

    He called for concerted efforts to tackle unemployment in the country, saying: “Unemployment is increasing on an alarming rate. You have many graduates roaming the streets without job. Those that are able to get jobs are on contract appointments; they are not sure of permanent appointments, no hope for the future. “It wasn’t like that before and it calls for caution. I wonder how far the government’s poverty alleviation has impacted on the masses. But I can say that it has not really achieved anything. But with what we have done here today, I can testify that for over the years, some of the people that have come in contact with this programme are now doing fine.

    “Some of them are now successful bead makers, others are soap makers and they no longer depend on anybody to make ends meet. So, this is something I think that our government should look into.”

    Some of the beneficiaries also testified that the programme has been a tremendous blessing to them. Mrs. Ekwuagana  Oluchi Rosalyn told journalists that her life has been transformed since she came in contact with the foundation. She, therefore, advised other women to embrace the empowerment programme for their financial freedom.

    “I have been following them every year and for me to come all the way from Iyana-Ipaja is an indication that I love what they are doing.

    “My advice goes to women who call themselves housewives. There is nothing like housewives again because one can do things even in her one room apartment. It can be soap making, hand-washing soap or other things. She will sell whatever she produces because Lagos is the cheapest place to live in Nigeria,”she said.

  • NGOs seek financial freedom for women

     

    The Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) and Cherie Blair Foundation (UK), have urged the government to establish financial structures for supporting women to expand the frontiers of business development.

    Speaking at an event tagged “Evening of Celebration, Experience Sharing and Networking” organised by the foundation in Ikoyi, Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Mrs. Aisha Murtala-Oyebode said there were a lot of challenges which budding women entrepreneurs experience. She added that if they receive help in terms of financial structures, their businesses will grow.

    Mrs. Aisha also advised the government not to make financial access difficult for women so that they would contribute towards the development of the economy.

    “It is important to create structures that will support women in terms of finance. Though they could have good mentors who help them in developing their businesses, if they don’t have access to finance, their businesses won’t grow.

    “So, what we need is the government to help us develop that capacity so that Nigeria women can attain their goals. It’s a one-year-programme and the women are doing extremely well.

    “It is not about financing alone; we have to stop making access to finance for women difficult. It is important that women maintain their families and keep their homes. At the same time, they need financial independence if they should realise their potential,” she added.

    She also advised women to be determined and not to be discouraged in their businesses.

    Continuing, she said: “We can do it and if we are determined, we are the ones who will help break some of those barriers that we talk about across the continent. We have the capacity; we can lead so that others will follow. Men should always support their wives.”

    In a chat with Southwest Report, Dr. Dotun Akande of Patrick Speech and Language Centre also called on the government to train and support women in different fields.

    He said: “What I think the government should do for women is the provision of capacity building which is key. When you train a woman, she trains the nation. It is important that government should continue to support women in terms of training in every field such as education, health, wellness and farming, among others. This is very important because if you support a woman you have supported the entire family.”

    During their presentation, women mentors from different fields complained about the Nigeria educational sector.

    President, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Mrs Titilayo Adisa said the government should include thinking skill in school curriculum to help discover creativity and problem solvers among the students.

    “I want the school curriculum, from primary to the tertiary levels to include robotics planning in their curricula because if we are able to make thinking skill as part of our curricula, the thinking skill will allow us do creative and innovative thinking.

    “Again, we will have problem solvers. From youth, one can learn how to do other things because creativity is as important to education as literacy,” she said.

    Women should serve as change agent because the more we give to the society the more it gets better. It is not about the money but the passion.

     

  • Empowering women entrepreneurs

    With a large number of women becoming entrepreneurs,  industrial organisations are being made to see that women are taking up more positive roles in developing the economy. They have, however, realised that women do not  have the funds and they lack the technical know-how to run a business. This is why the Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) and Uplift Development Foundation are organising the 6th edition of Nigeria Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition, tagged: NIWEX 2015 in Abeokuta, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    NO time or age is too late to start a business venture and no qualification is required for a woman to be in  business. This  is one message NACCIMA    Business Women Group in collaboration with ECOWAS  Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE)  and wife of the governor of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, are drumming into women ears trying to ensure opportunities for women entrepreneurs. To them, fostering entrepreneurship is a key policy goal for a government, which share the expectation that high rates of entrepreneurial activity will bring sustained job creation.

    According to them, there is a clear need to provide  better information about entrepreneurship as an attractive option  for young women in school and for women outside the labour force.

    To NACCIMA Business Women Group, it is time to empower women to make an income; accumulate assets; increase their economic security; improve industrial capacity and spur economic growth by creating new jobs, and expanding the pool of human resources and talents available in a country.

    The  entrepreneurs programme  is designed to empower women around the country  to end poverty by liberating the entrepreneurial spirit for good. One  of the leading  lights  of the movement  is  the deputy national president of the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson, a successful businesswoman. She  is  determined  to  help more  women  to become entrepreneurs .

    According to the chairperson, Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition, Mrs Cynthnia Saka,   Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration has launched the state on the path of industrial base, adding that the state is rich in natural resources to make it competitive nationally, but needed the government’s efforts to develop into an industrial giant.

    To achieve the developmental strides, she said, the government was providing incentives, building up business skills and encouraging firms to look beyond the borders. In addition, she said the government is boosting its services to meet the needs of small and medium-sized export firms.

    One strategy which she maintained would help the government achieve its goal is the partnership with the chamber of commerce as evidenced in the  increased business activities.

    According to her, investors believe in the state, and that is why it is having  the largest concentration of industries.

    Besides, Mrs Saka said the state’s investment is not only in infrastructure, but also in designing and implementing projects. These according to her, would secure lives and properties and protect future legacies.

    She said women entrepreneurs need a little help along their entrepreneurial journey.

    “The need of the hour is for a mentor, a hand holder to walk beside them on their path to success,” she said.

    Being a fledgling entrepreneur herself, Mrs  Saka  CEO, T. Cynthia Nigeria Ltd,    found her self needing guidance and advice on various aspects. For her, the experience of starting her own business had its own share of roadblocks. She  said women entrepreneurs find banks as the most difficult source for obtaining funds.  While women find it easier to start up, they find it equally difficult to grow and access capital as a result of which most of their businesses do not grow.

    For  her, Ogun State  has emerged as the best place for women entrepreneurs to start business with high level of optimism on various factors that are important to judge business growth. To address women challenges, she  said  the  Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) and Uplift Development Foundation of Mrs  Amosun, is organising the 6th edition of Nigeria Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition tagged: (NIWEX 2015). The event, which will last seven days, has been scheduled to take place from December 7 to 16 at  the MKO Abiola Trade Fair,

    She  said the fair is the dream of like minded women entrepreneurs, who wanted to train, guide, support and enhance the lives of ladies. “The Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) is a branch of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) dedicated to promoting economic development for women entrepreneurs in Africa,” she said.

    FEBWE Nigeria , according to her, is  a national organisation  with members spread throughout the country.

    The organisation, she  said,  provides women wishing to start their own ventures, business counselling, networking opportunities and bring businesswomen on a common forum to ensure that their visions are collectively and effectively taken up with policy makers and other agencies. The  goal, she said, remains to ensure development of opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

    “Uplift Development Foundation is  already working  to  empower  police officers’ wives, market men and women, community leaders, hunters, artisans, religious bodies, farmers, widows and others have benefited from the state community empowerment programme,” she said.

    The programme, which was initiated by  Mrs. Amosun, creates opportunities for the less privileged to participate in the economy and improve their earning potentials in order to assist their families fight their way out of poverty.

     

     

    Mrs. Amosun explained that the programme was aimed at maximising growth opportunities among the less privileged in Ogun State and support them to reach their full potentials.

    She noted that the Community Empowerment Programme was borne out of the needs assessment carried out before embarking on the programme where various community leaders and associations were consulted to ensure that the needs of these communities were met to enable them to be self-employed and self-sufficient.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Empower women entrepreneurs, LCCI pleads

    Empower women entrepreneurs, LCCI pleads

    The women group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)  has made a case for more energy and resources to be channelled towards grooming the next generation of female entrepreneurs as a way of tackling the high unemployment rate in the country.

    Speaking at the second edition of the Group’s annual conference held in Lagos, the Chairperson of the Women Group, Mrs Adenike Sobajo, said this will only be possible when women take it as a point of duty to nurse and spur entrepreneurial spirit in their offspring from a tender age.

    She explained that the aim of the conference themed ‘Developing the Next Generation of Female Entrepreneurs’ was to afford up and coming female entrepreneurs the opportunity of rubbing minds with successful business women and tapping from their wealth of experience.

    “At the LCCI, the women group is ensuring that women move forward. Out of the school, we should begin to mentor them so that they can think on their own as to how to develop themselves business-wise. It is not just about making money, but adding value to their persons and to the society, Sobanjo said.

    She stated that the LCCI Women Group is already in partnership with international bodies to support aspiring women entrepreneurs with start-up capital to develop their businesses.

    Commending the initiative, LCCI President Mr. Remi Bello, represented by the former deputy governor, Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, described the conference as ‘timely,’ considering the limited employment opportunities in the country. He however, urged women to remain undaunted from taking bold steps towards attaining outstanding financial height.

    As Bello stated, “Most of our women are inhibited; they don’t have the confidence, and for you to go into business you must be bold regardless of whether you are going to fail or not. If you fail, you will try again. Many have started and they have failed but today, they are successful.”

    The LCCI chief challenged women to strive to equip themselves with the necessary values and skills on how to access funding, start a business and be successful in their chosen field.

    “There are lots of financial outfits out there, but they will always ask for collateral that people do not have. Regardless, there is one very key asset and that is getting the first start finance from friends or families. Whatever you get, don’t take it for granted.

    Don’t mix business with pleasure or mix your capital with personal spending,” he advised.

    The Executive Director of 141 Worldwide Limited, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, said the use of modern technology and social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp, among others, would afford women entrepreneurs the opportunity of global branding and recognition. “It’s all about marketing. If you cannot market yourself, you may not be successful in business,” she said.

    For Managing Director, Hayil Consult, Mrs Fehintola Folusho-Onagoruwa, there is need for women to adopt a positive mind-set on entrepreneurship. She noted that succeeding in business is not entirely a function of the environment or location, rather it is about mind-set.

    She said: “You need to move from being the employee to being a business owner. You are not a business owner when your enterprise cannot last one day without your presence. You must also understand the power of networking and partnering to make your business thrive.”

  • We’re scared of election, say Bayelsa women

    Bayelsa women are scared. They are afraid of losing their husbands, children and relations at the forthcoming December 5 governorship election in the state. They do not want their state to be turned into a theatre of war, bloodshed and brigandage in the name of election.

    The fears are genuine. They watched with shock how a primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), an exercise that was supposed to be a family affair, snowballed into violence and led to shooting, beating, kicking and machete attacks.

    They looked helpless as youths advancing the course of their political benefactor in the APC stormed the party secretariat, pulled down billboards, tore posters and banners and caused tension in the Yeni-Zuegene area of Yenagoa; demanding that the state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe, must be made the running mate of Chief Timipre Sylva.

    Besides, the women are terrified over controversies generated by the plan of a group of militants under the auspices of Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) to lead a 10,000-man protest against Sylva.

    Despite how convincing MBB sounds on maintaining the peace during the protest, the women are nursing fears that such demonstration may lead to a bloody clash between Sylva’s men and the organisers.

    The Bayelsa women are yet to recover from the emotional trauma resulting from the war in their neighbouring Rivers State, where youths were mowed down in their prime and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed. It was an election, they recalled, that caused that sicken war.

    Such should not be their portion in the only Ijaw homogeneous state.

    What will the women do to stop looming electoral violence before, during and after the polls? They are pleading with security agencies to be at alert without compromising the rules of engagements. They are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to help them keep the peace of the state. The women have also started meeting to sensitise members of the public to the need for a violent-free polls.

    In the circumstances, therefore, women from various communities have unanimously decided to pool resources against all forms of electoral violence and intimidation ahead of the December 5 governorship election.

    They have gathered themselves under the umbrella of Women of Excellence (WE) coordinated by Mrs. Tari-Ere Gita to present a common front against violence. To this end, a seminar on electoral violence was held on Monday, October 12 at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

    Making their positions known, Gita, alongside the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Amaemi Bekeyei-Alaki and the group’s Non-Indigene Coordinator, Alexis Sowunmi, they maintained that all parties to the election should adhere to the rules of engagement.

    Gita said: “In recent past, Bayelsa State was smeared by violence, killings, kidnappings, cultism; state machinery was used to sponsor terrorism with political opponents as targets. Perceived enemies of government were not left out. Many indigenes of Bayelsa went into exile in neighbouring states and far-flung places”.

    Gita, however, enjoined all the parties to pursue peace and political tolerance, insisting that the election must be held in an atmosphere of civility, law and order.

    She called on politicians to desist from heating up the polity. She also urged security agencies to ensure protection of lives and property before, during and after the election. She urged them to arrest and deal with anybody promoting violence in the state.

    “We call on President Buhari to direct all relevant security agencies to ensure that people of Bayelsa are spared the anguish of political violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.

    “Mr. President must not be seen to encourage or tactically support electoral violence, and must therefore take appropriate steps to ensure that the election is free and fair.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure that the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State is held in accordance with the law and in line with international electoral best practices.

    “To our women, our aged citizens and the physically-challenged, we say come out and decide your future on December 5, this year. To our youths, we say shun violence,” she said.

    She said WE was established to promote political, economic and cultural dynamism inherent in every woman.

    Gita further said the association operates on the platform of unity of its members without prejudice to their educational and social status.

    She said the group advocates, among other things, women participation in governance, non-violence against women, strengthening of the home front, legislations, economic empowerment of women and peaceful co-existence.