…as fourth cohort onboards

The African Women Power (AWP) Network recently concluded onboarding for cohort four of its procurement training initiative.

Founder of the AWP Network, Mary Olushoga, started the high-impact vendor training programme in collaboration with Shoprite Nigeria on July 15, 2020. To date, over 50,000 vendors have applied to the programme. The programme has also onboarded new retailers and buyer partners.

The high-impact procurement initiative is the first of its kind in West Africa and the organisation’s goal is to train and increase the number of women and local vendors who will become part of the retail and manufacturing ecosystem.

Olushoga noted that the AWP capacity building programme provides guidance to women and local vendors seeking professional guidance regarding best practices to become vendor suppliers. The programme offers a real-life opportunity for women and local vendors alike to get their products out into the marketplace through retail partners.

Cohort four vendors got the exclusive access to pitch their products for consideration to Shoprite buyers in Nigeria and Prince Ebeano buyers in Canada. AWP Vendors also connected with government partners to include the Ekiti State Government Bureau of Public Procurement and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.

She further stated, “this programme provides a platform for peer-to-peer learning and community. It also helps our small businesses understand the real-life challenges and opportunities that comes with supplying to large retailers.

“While this programme serves small business interests in Nigeria. We also understand a few challenges that some large retailers struggle in their commitment to pay vendors in a timely fashion, that regulatory bodies in Nigeria create bottlenecks with unattainable oversight, stringent regulations, and unrealistic fees on simple things such as packaging and standardisation.”

For there to be significant changes in our development, the entire retail and manufacturing players within the ecosystem need to work together to make Nigeria a better place. Of course, we know that Nigeria needs more success stories despite the current, tough macroeconomic challenges.

It is therefore important to highlight that the AWP Network is here to support entrepreneurs, and that we will continue to strive to make Nigeria a better place for community and economic development initiatives, growth, and sustainability.