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Entrepreneurship development skills excite participants
Over 200 vulnerable women in the North East states of Gombe and Yobe have been empowered with entrepreneurial development skills by the Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The programme, in partnership with the Organisation for Environmental, Agricultural and Health Development (OEAHD), aims at providing soft skill acquisition for selected women, including physically challenged women in the country’s North-East region.
Managing Director of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the training affirms the Bank’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country to enhance their contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to Okpanachi, the DBN believes that “this partnership with OEAHD and by extension the entrepreneurial and capacity development initiative will have a significant impact on the lives of the targeted women in Gombe and Yobe State respectively, fostering their empowerment and contributing to sustainable development in the region.”
He further said; “Up to date, about 62 percent of our lending has gone to women-owned businesses. Most of them are Micro and Small Businesses”, adding; “Our goal is to continue to nurture and empower women across regions, the ultimate objective being to grow and upscale them from micro to large businesses.”
The DBN Chief Executive explained that the women have received comprehensive vocational skills training that will enable them to start businesses or enhance existing ones, thereby improving their economic well-being.
In her address to participants at the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Training and Capacity Building event, the National Coordinator of OEAHD, Hon. Tabitha Iliya Sallah amplified the significant roles of women in the socio-economic development of the nation.
Hear her; “The importance of women’s participation in entrepreneurship cannot be overstated. It is not just about fostering gender equality, but also about tapping into the full potential of our nation’s human resources.
“As entrepreneurs, women have the power to innovate, create jobs, and drive economic growth, because when women are economically empowered, their communities and the nation at large benefit.
“The fact that this program has been made possible through the collaboration of OEAHD and DBN is a testament to our collaborative commitment and dedication to women’s economic empowerment across regions; especially displaced women.”
Sallah, who lauded DBN for sustaining its long-term vision of alleviating financing constraints faced by MSMEs and Small Corporations in Nigeria, noted that by providing training, mentorship, and access to finance, the bank is creating a nurturing environment for women to thrive in the business world.
Further acknowledging that such visionary initiatives are helping to bridge the gender gap and promote sustainable economic development, the OEAHD National Coordinator said; “DBN, as we all know, has been at the forefront of empowering women in business with unlimited access to finance and knowledge to prosper and build viable enterprises that will enable them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the socio-economic development of their immediate families and communities” She posited.
OEAHD, as an NGO, is passionate about assisting the less privileged and vulnerable, particularly women and children, internally displaced persons, etc regardless of race, colour, gender, social status, or political affiliations in Nigeria.
The OEAHD has carried out several humanitarian services in the North East geo-political zone, but its operation is nationwide with regional offices in Abuja and Gombe. The organization’s major service areas cover – Agriculture, Education, and Health.
