Women’s Entrepreneurship Day slated for November 15
Photo: PEXELS
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) the world’s largest celebration of women innovators, founding startups, job creators that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare, is set to hold mid-November.
In the past three decades, women-run businesses have witnessed a boom than at any time in history. Africa leads this charge with more women entrepreneurs than men compared with anywhere else in the world.
Women’s inclusion in the economy translates to direct economic benefits with increased household incomes, lower unemployment. In the United States, for example, women-owned firms are growing at more than double the rate of all other firms, contribute nearly $3 trillion to the economy and are directly responsible for 23 million jobs.
Even with the impressive growth over the years, women still have to surmount significant legal, social and economic constraints to thrive, especially in emerging markets like Africa. According to the World Bank, Women-owned businesses tend to be informal, home-based and concentrated in the areas of small-scale entrepreneurship and traditional sectors, which primarily includes retail and service.
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WED or WEDO) launched in 2014, works globally to empower women and girls to become active participants in the economy by igniting a network of women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate start-ups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities around the world.
In order to achieve this ambitious goal, WEDO builds and catalyses the vital networks of like-minded individuals and organisations that women business leaders need to realise their full potential and change the world. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is celebrated in 144 countries and 110 universities.
The event has been celebrated in Nigeria over the past years and successfully reached over 1000 female-owned small businesses. In attendance in previous events were business leaders, change-makers, government officials and civil societies to collaborate and find solutions in critical areas of entrepreneurship eco-systems, education and policy creation to empower women in business.
The 2019 WED event, adequately themed: From Start to Scale will showcase some of the best minds in starting and growing world-class businesses in the digital age. It will convene the best business minds, men and women alike to share insights and experiences to empower over 300 female business owners through panel sessions, pitching and networking events.
The event will be hosted by WED Nigeria team, Echika Obijiaku and Tori Abiola, the WED Nigeria ambassador and co-ambassador alongside Adenike Kuti who is the Regional Ambassador for West
Africa and a group of some amazing women leaders in Lagos, Nigeria. The event is scheduled to hold at the Access Bank Plc, BIS Way Road, Oniru in Lagos, Nigeria
Other sessions after the panels on digitization and funding include the WED Business Clinic, WED Pitchathon 2.0 and WED Business Fair.
The day will attract a host of women who has excelled both in the business world through entrepreneurial innovation, as well as the corporate world. In particular, WED Nigeria is bringing onboard a group of dynamic women from an organisation called Maluwa Africa led by Joyce Tsonang.
Some of the confirmed speakers, moderators and judges for WED Nigeria 2019 include: Maria Rotilu, General Manager West Africa, Branch.co, former Uber Country Manager, Nnake Essien – Lead Strategist, SiSa; Kenneth Obiajulu- Managing Director, Farmcrowdy; Kenneth Obiajulu- Managing Director, Farmcrowdy; Chioma Ogbudimkpa- Creative Director, RedButton; Dr Bukola Adewakun- General Manager, Thriving Enterprise Development Center; Chidi Koldsweat- Founder, Donors For Africa; Nichole Yembra, Managing Director, The Chrysalis Capital; Edward Esene, Co-Founder/Team Lead Plus Innovation Hub;
Adenike Kuti, Associate Director, Leapfrog Investments; Moyo Ogunseinde- Director, Uraga Real Estate Group; Edirin Edewor- Multiple Amazon Bestselling Author and Ihotu Eritosin Gregory- Founder, The Scratch Board among others.
WED Nigeria Ambassador, Echika Obijiaku, entrepreneur, and Founder of Mwanga Limited, said: ‘This year’s WED Nigeria looks to empower women-run businesses with the network, resources, and knowledge to grow from a startup to a multinational thriving organisation that achieves scale. It brings amazing leading women entrepreneurs in a room – as a catalyst to having critical discussions that transform viewpoints of growing businesses. There will be experienced operators, funders, strategists and experts in the room and it promises to be an exciting and impactful time for attendees.”
To register for the event and the other aspects mentioned above, interested participants can click on https://linktr.ee/WEDNigeria
This year’s event is powered by Access Bank Plc and W Community. Other sponsors include The Guardian, Kavabe Hub, Wilsons Juice Company, NAFDAC, Mwanga, Verifi NG, and The Lekki Gift Company.
