The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Alumnae Association (AWEAA) has urged the government to eliminate multiple taxation and unfavourable policies affecting the upscale and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Women were also advised to understand their products and customers to drive business growth.
AWEAA, in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General, submitted this in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD), in Lagos, with the theme ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress’.
President of AWEAA, Adebisi Odeleye, encouraged the women to put in their best in their fields while stating that the event aimed to accelerate women’s growth and empower them by giving them access to opportunities, exports, markets, information, finance and machinery.
She called on the government to curb multiple taxation challenges and provide an enabling environment by creating policies that allow women to thrive in the entrepreneurial space.
Vice president of AWEAA, Victoria Ajayi, said women are resilient and can create their opportunities.
She also advised startups to be dogged because it helps build capacity, and impacts staff and communities.
“We are fortunate to have access to information and networks so find one to belong to. Collaboration would get us to the finish line faster. So, if you see a woman who is doing something you aspire to, find ways to add value to it. A lot of people are willing to share their knowledge but not from a parasitic level of using them,” she said.
The keynote speaker and founder, The Customer Focused Company, Ope Wemi-Jones, emphasised the importance for women to lead by example by demonstrating a commitment to resilience, confidence and believing in their capabilities.
She noted that the gap between men and women remains stubbornly persistent, emphasising that women are gradually taking their place.
She stressed that the drive for inclusion was not to give women positions they don’t deserve but to urge women to be self-led, which should start with self-awareness, while they should constantly prepare, seek opportunities and take action.
“Women oftentimes need someone to nudge them and remind them of their capacities. We should collaborate, show up and widen our network.
“I have seen how transformative it can be when you invest in women and address the unique challenge they face. Investing in women creates employment and creates businesses,” she said.
Participants such as the Founder, House of Maramuna, Amarachi Onwuamegbu; Founder, Hannah Ephriam, Oluwatosin Sodimu; Winifred Nnamdi and Oluwakemi Oyebanji, received N1 million worth of grants in equipment to support their businesses.
