Economic Empowerment
Source: Vanguard
The teeming Nigerian women entrepreneurs,recently attracted the interest of international payment card solution providers, MasterCard, as it went into collaboration with Youth for Technology Foundation,YTF, in Nigeria,to boost entrepreneurial capabilities of over 1500 Nigerian women with technology hands-on trainings.
Through the Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs program, the partnership is targeted at female business owners from the Niger Delta region, providing them with business management and capacity building skills, while deepening their access to financial services.
Youth for Technology Foundation will recruit and train women entrepreneurs from across nine states in the Niger Delta region including: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Imo, Ondo, Rivers and Edo.
Participants will undergo 10 hours of classroom and online training as well as networking events designed to allow for exchange of experiences among fellow entrepreneurs. Participants will receive SMS-based messages twice a week with information ranging from business basics, tools, leadership, money management, sales and marketing as well as banking and credit.
Female entrepreneurs
Executive Director of Youth for Technology Foundation, Mrs. Njideka Harry, said: "We are keen on harnessing the power of technology to transform the lives of disadvantaged people and communities in developing countries. We are very happy to partner with MasterCard in Nigeria to provide female entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region with practical tools that will bring transformation to their businesses and by extension enhance their lives as well."
She noted that Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to the development of Nigeria' economy, adding that the Financial System Strategy 2020 initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, highlights that SMEs represent about 96% of Nigerian businesses and face numerous challenges such as infrastructure and knowledge gaps in addition to a poor financial support and credit environment.
MasterCard works with a number of non-profit organizations around the world to support financial literacy, entrepreneurial empowerment and much more.
Vice-President and Area Business Head, MasterCard West Africa, Omokehinde Ojomuyide added that "MasterCard has always been passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs across the globe.