The Minister of State for Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum said the government is set to empower 600 women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.
The development, Katagum said, is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment toward boosting the economy through gender-focused activities that foster an enabling environment and stimulate economic activities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Minister said this at the launch of the power project for the FCT and Nasarawa State beneficiaries by African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP), entrepreneurship training tagged “A Capacity Building” workshop for women and youths between the ages of 18 and 35.
Her words: “I am delighted to be present at the launch of the AWEP Power Project. It is heartwarming to know that this project will support 600 women beneficiaries in the FCT and Nasarawa State.
“I commend AWEP for their enterprising and creative spirit as there is no better time than now when most women are in dire need of this kind of gesture, especially in the promotion of the SDG goals 4, 5, 8, 10 and 17.
“Let me remind the audience that AWEP, as the African Women Entrepreneurship Program, has an outreach that provides education and engagement initiatives across Africa to enable African Women to participate in American Market. I commend the power project which is being launched today as it will definitely provide women with knowledge and opportunities to access the market, finance, rights and exposure to new business opportunities by using what we have to meet our needs.
“This project is highly commendable and strategic, as this will help the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in particular, to actualise one of its objectives to boost the development of Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises in the FCT and Nasarawa State as it illustrates active state participation and ownership.
“Access to market through Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and N50 billion Exports Expansion Facilities (EEF), will boost the development of MSMEs,” she said.
National President of AWEP, Angela Ajala said 600 women from ten communities will be trained so that they can contribute to the economy of their communities and also add value to their lives and families.
Ajala urged the trainees to connect with one another to achieve “our goals. We must learn to work together, and when we do this, we will achieve speed, be united in purpose and be more financially independent.
“This training manual has been developed to support this project and capture the basics needed to start up and run a small business, making you an employer of labour, a voice in your community and an aspiring entrepreneur.
“If you know how to do something well, then that knowledge can be used to start a business and impact your community,” she said.