Facebook
has unveiled an initiative known as”SheMeansBusiness” to train female
entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Facebook’s Public Policy Director, Africa, Ms Ebele
Okobi, said at the launch of the initiative, in Lagos, that it was designed to
inspire women to start and grow their own businesses. Okobi noted that a recent
study conducted by Development Economics on behalf of Facebook shows that
businesses set up by women in
Nigeria, over the next five years, will bring in
N19.7 billion into the Nigerian economy, and create 8.9 million jobs. She
stated:”We know that when women do better, economies do better. The study conducted
by Development Economics further highlights this, with the research suggesting
that an estimated 7 million new businesses could be set up by women in Nigeria
by 2021. This places a greater importance on women’s entrepreneurial ambitions
for overall economic and social development of the country.” Also speaking,
Policy
Programmes Manager, EMEA, Facebook, Ms Sherry Dzinoreva, said that the
initiative was the first in Africa, noting that it had been launched in Turkey,
United Kingdom, and Mexico, among other countries. She said SheMeansBusiness
aims to train 50,000 female small and mediun entrepreneurs (SMEs) and create
opportunities that would inspire and empower others.
On her part, SMB Sales
Manager, EMEA, Facebook, Ms Abi Williams advised small and medium business
operators to utilise opportunities provided by Facebook as a digital platform.
She listed funds constraint, lack of knowledge of how to start and
unpreparedness as some hindrances to women’s development of interest in
businesses. According to her, in order to bridge the confidence gap, it is
imperative for women to be connected to people who will motivate them to do
more, adding that such motivations should include the desire to make money and
create jobs.
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