The Lead Mentor, the NGO Support Initiative of the Development, Research and Project Centre (DRPC), Kehinde Omojola, has called on the government at all levels to improve budgetary provision for women’s economic empowerment and implement policies that boost access to grants for business expansion. She observed that such a provision would assist in tackling poverty in society and encourage more women to assist their families in meeting daily needs.

Omojola made the call at an empowerment programme for 50 female petty traders in Mile 12 International Market organised by NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) in partnership with the DRPC in Lagos.

According to her, one of the key things the governments need to do is to provide an enabling environment that makes it easy for women to trade, adding that because of the difficult economic situation in the country, more women are becoming breadwinners in their homes by trading daily through
cash loans.

“If we can have policies in place that make it easy for women to access funding, particularly when allocating a budget for women’s economic development, it will help the women, the families, and the nation in general.

A lot has been done by states like Lagos and others in that regard, but they are not enough.

“We have a national policy that has been developed for women’s economic development in Nigeria, but we would love to see it implemented. We are supporting NNEW in providing capacity building for Mile 12 market women, teaching them how to manage their business properly by providing funds for them as capital to either add to what they have or even start up businesses. We believe that the support will generate positive results and encourage the women in this difficult time,” she said.

She argued that when women are supported economically, they will be able to make a great impact on the national economy.Speaking at the forum, the Vice President, NNEW, Bolanle Edwards, said the training aimed to enlighten the women about better ways of doing business and provide grants for them.

Edwards explained that the challenges identified among the women include the reality that some of the women need help to boost their businesses, more visibility, and need to cater more to their large families.

She advocated that women need to develop a better understanding of business to put them on a bigger pedestal and manage the grants given to them properly, rather than diverting the funds. Edwards disclosed that the grant to be offered to 25 of them will be properly monitored and evaluated to ensure that funds are properly utilised.

Chief Executive Officer, Kemrose Consult Services, Kemisola T’Oluwanimi, advised the women to be friendly towards customers, show respect, empathy, and guide their customers in making the right choice.

On her part, the Chief Operating Officer, StepCraft Nigeria Limited, Eniola Mayowa, appealed to them to develop a proper understanding of businesses before investing grants to be provided, stressing that proper training will help the sustainability of the business and boost profitability.

Also speaking, the Iyaloja, Mile 12 International Market, Yeye Modupe Ojo, lauded the facilitators for prioritising capacity development for women in Lagos, noting that the training will positively impact their business.