‘Women entrepreneurs key to sustainable growth’

Women have been charged to leverage on entrepreneurship as a tool to sustainable economic growth.

This was the submission of participants at the Joan Agha Foundation (JAF)’s fifth annual lecture for women entrepreneurs in Lagos.

The President of JAF, Mrs. Joan Agha, who spoke on: “Empowering women entrepreneurs for sustainable growth,” she said there was the need for women to start up business as a means of contributing to the country’s economic growth.

She stressed that women entrepreneurship capacity building would address key areas such as employment generation, wealth creation and poverty eradication.

She urged women to deploy strategic action plan that would reposition their businesses and improve their capacity to achieve set objectives in the path of sustainable business growth and global competitiveness.

According to a report analysis by the United Notions’ Nigeria office, in conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria, 67.1 per cent of the country’s total population is living below poverty level.

The report said 70 per cent of the population are women with 0.527 Human Development Index (HDI). These statistics, according to experts, reflect the level of poverty in Nigeria, with reference to women and had restricted access to the most fundamental need.

The Founder, Bella Africana, Bukky Asehinde, who spoke at the panel session, said women are contributors to economic development and should leverage on entrepreneurship as a tool to building the economy, rather than relying on white collar jobs.

She said Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources, and urged women to create opportunities by leveraging on local products, making it global.

Another panelist, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oriki Group, Joyce Awosika, added that though, starting up businesses is not easy, women should become innovative and implement their ideas, to make positive impact in the business world.