Women
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, April 27, 2018 (NAN) National Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE) says it is seeking partnership with the Federal Government in training and soft loans, to enhance entrepreneurship among Nigerian women.
Mrs Ada Ozongwu, National President of the association, said this in Abuja during the ongoing 2018 National Women Entrepreneurs Summit and Expo and celebration of its 25th anniversary.
Ozongwu said that partnering with the government and other relevant agencies would also guarantee standardisation and recognition of their locally manufactured products.
“We want to partner with the government, women organisations and other government agencies which are able to support us and make the business space favourable.
“We have in the past 25 years built our capacity, found our passion and we want to re-launch ourselves in the public domain, as proud Nigerian manufacturers that produce Nigeria products.
“We want government agencies like Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to give us more support in training and provision of soft loans,’’she said.
Ozongwu said that women entrepreneurs represent 50 per cent of the country population, adding that their proceeds contributed to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
She called on stakeholders, relevant in women entrepreneurs, to make a difference and set Nigeria on a global stage.
Dr Nse Udoh, Director-General, National Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE) noted that the contemporary Nigerian women entrepreneurs had grown and gained more recognition through their local products.
She said they also earned such recognition through their associations and affiliations with various agencies
The director-general said the development differed from the past where such women were relegated to the background because their works were neither not recognised nor appreciated.
She called on government to support NAWE in providing loans for small businesses as well as training them in computer technology to aid their efforts in global trade. (NAN)
TIM/JTJ/DUA
Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Dada Ahmed