2025 AWEP Conference : Wife Of VP Harps On Women’s Economic Empowerment

Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shetima wants African women entrepreneurs to always avail themselves of various government intervention programmes aimed at building a more inclusive global economy.

Hajiya Nana Shetima made the call in Abuja during the 2025 Annual Conference of African Women Entrepreneurship Program, AWEP with the theme : Together We Rise “Women’s Collective Impact”.

The Wife of the Vice President who was represented by the Director, Planning and Statistics, Mariam Babangida Women Development Centre, Ijeoma Duru described African women entrepreneurs as industrious and productive hence the need for them to be effectively empowered towards enhancing economic development of the continent through export of products and services to international communities.

While commending AWEP for its efforts in empowering and giving voices to African women entrepreneurs over the years through export reiterated the determination of Nigerian Government towards harnessing the potentials of women entrepreneurs to enhance national economic development through the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration.

In a remark, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the present administration would continue to create an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs would strive.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole who was represented by the Head of Fender in the Ministry, Hawa Zainab stated that the Federal Government has put in place various programmes and initiative that would ensure Empowerment and economic inclusion towards realizing the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in the area of economic development.

The Keynote Speaker, Dr Zainab Marwa, emphasized the need for women to always support one another towards realizing their goals in their various endeavours.

Dr. Zainab Marwa, who also advised women to always be destiny helpers and share opportunities that would make them rise together, equally stressed the need for them to be positive minded towards actualizing their dreams in life.

In his presentation entitled “Women’s Impact in a Developing Economy,” the President of Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum, NEF, Dr. Sidney Inegbedion highlighted various infrastructure deficiencies such as lack of sufficient roads, lack of portable water supply, and insufficient power supply for basic and industrial activities, fluctuating currency compared to those of more developed countries among others as some of the challenges confronting women entrepreneurs

Dr. Sidney Inegbedion who called on the Federal Government to address the infrastructure deficiencies said NEF would continue to embark on advocacy and entrepreneurship training and capacity building aimed at heightening the awareness of the unlimited opportunities that exist in Nigeria through business ownership.

He therefore promised NEF’s continuous support to AWEP towards realizing its mandate.

In her message , the Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC , Mrs Nonye Ayeni, said the Council would continue to support and collaborate with AWEP towards developing the capacity of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

According to the ED NEPC, the Agency has already trained some women entrepreneurs on modalities and techniques on export as part of NEPC’s Non – Oli Export Initiative.

Earlier, the National President, African Women Entrepreneurship Program, Nigeria , AWEP, Dr. Grace Okaro said AWEP under her leadership has been able to upholding the vision and aspirations of the Program in Nigeria to economically and politically emancipate and empower womenfolk to become agents of positive change and voices for a diverse, equitable, inclusive and sustainable future for the society.

Dr. Grace Okaro who said AWEP operate in five distinct business clusters and sectors namely Agriculture/Food Processing, Fashion and Apparel, Hair and Body, Light Manufacturing and Services explained that AWEP in Nigeria has been a leading women business association whose presence is in all the six geo- political zones of the country.

Highpoints of the event were panel discussion, exhibition, awards of certificates to Mentees, AGM among others.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji