Ministry convenes capacity building for women

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has commenced capacity building for women cooperative groups on Business Growth and Sustainability.

The training drew about 600 participants from all the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen, said the training aims at building the capacity of Women entrepreneurs on Business Growth and Sustainability.

Represented by the Director, Economic Services Department Mr. Idris Mohammed, she described the event as “very timely” saying it came at a time when the federal government is trying to reposition the economy from the oil enclave to agriculture and entrepreneurship development in order to achieve economic prosperity.

“Globally, entrepreneurship in Small, Medium and Large Scale have been accepted as the engine of economic growth and promoting equitable development.

“Women have natural appetite for entreprenuship but one major constraints of women entrepreneurship development is limited access to affordable credit, however, most women who started petty-trading in the past, today, have grown to bigger enterprises that employ large labour force and generate financiai support to the economy,” she explained.

She therefore, called for proactive steps to engender an upsurge in credit facility to women entrepreneurs.

“Banks and other financial institutions should be encouraged to offer their support in order to achieve the necessary growth of Entrepreneurship development, growth and sustainability,” she said.

“Government is making efforts to create the enabling environment, through provision of infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business. Investors should take advantage of this to establish and develop their businesses.

“Investor’s are equally encouraged to come in to invest as the environment is made conducive for businesse growth,”Tallen said, as she urged participants to make adequate use of the training by seasoned resource persons to grow and sustain their business.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, represented by the Deputy Director, Economic Service Department Blessing Anunike, said the event was a clear demonstration of the ministry’s commitment towards development and empowerment of women.

Leave a Reply