Women empowerment summit ends, harps on entrepreneurship
By Anson Ekechi Chukwu
I T was a gathering of seasoned bankers, senior teachers from various Nigerian universities and eminent women from all walks of life when the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, played host to the First National Women Empowerment Summit at the weekend.
The summit with the theme, "Entrepreneurship: An Effective Tool in Empowering Nigerian Women", which was organised by Success Edge International, a group of publishers, featured a series of lectures on corporate and small-scale strategic management, technological advancement in poultry and piggery management, opportunities for micro-businesses in Nigeria and challenges of raising non-bank finance.
There were also practical demonstrations on the preparation of Yoghurt, ice cream and fruit juice products tagged "Discovering the Secret of Wealth in Food, Beverage Industry."
Gwen Abiola-Oloke, General Manager, Central Liability Management of the NNB International Bank PLC (formerly New Nigeria Bank) in a paper underscored the power of entrepreneurship in a competitive society like Nigeria which ultimately transforms idle hands into innovators who implement change in the economy by trying new combination of resources.
Another banker, Dr. Alaba Olusemore, spoke on "Opportunities for Micro Businesses in Nigeria."
As part of the empowerment programme, a book titled Women Empowerment For Better Living, which catalogued a series of concepts, methodologies, techniques as well as various innovative means of self-employment was launched.
It contains 21 lucrative businesses any sensible woman can start without much of initial capital requirement.
The reviewer of the book, Mrs Shobukola, Vice Principal of CMS Girls Grammar School, Lagos, said: "The book is another masterpiece from the author which highlighted the dawn of a new era whereby women are no longer to be relegated to the kitchen or used as tools on the farmland as has been the practice and the era of making women babysitters is over. The empowered women can now rub shoulders or compete favourably with their male counterparts."
