TheCable

Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), will deliver the keynote address at the summit of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) network of entrepreneurial women.

Usman is expected to speak on the topic “On the Way to Mastery: The Experience of a Nigeria Woman”, at the seventh edition of the summit scheduled to begin on October 21, 2020.

The summit is part of programmes lined up to celebrate the association’s 15 years of existence.

The NECA network of entrepreneurial women was established on November 25, 2005 as a forum to provide access to information on business and socio-economic matters to members.

Bolanle Edwards, chairperson of the planning committee, said the two-day virtual summit would have quality impact, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On her part, Funmilayo Arowoogun, president of NECA network of entrepreneurial women, called for better efforts on implementation of loan policies to ensure accessibility for women entrepreneurs.

“A woman that is empowered and able to do her business well is an employer of labour. She helps to provide job security and also contributes to the Gross Domestic Product of the country as well as reduce the gaps in employment margin,” Arowoogun said.

“However, the ease for women to do business is not encouraging. Access to funding is a major issue faced by women in business. During the pandemic, we heard about funds being released here and there, but most times, the money doesn’t get to the women. Even when the funds are provided, most of the women still do not have access.

“If the government both at the federal and state levels can make access to funding, especially loans, very easy for women by reducing the protocol involved in getting these funds, it will enable women to have flourishing businesses.

“When you empower a woman, you are not just empowering her, you are also empowering the nation.”

Arowoogun explained that although women entrepreneurs have continued to prove their mettle, they need to continously develop themselves to remain relevant in their individual businesses.

“The last fifteen years of the Network have witnessed major transformation, beginning from the pioneer members who have grown their businesses to an enviable height within the business community, major achievements by successive leadership, and the current leadership and members who are doing well and making an impact in their entrepreneurial journey,” she added.