Over 200 vulnerable women from the North East part of the country are to benefit from the entrepreneurial development skills training programme organised by the Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN).
A statement by the bank said
the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Training and Capacity Building programme organised in partnership with the Organisation for Environmental, Agricultural and Health Development (OEAHD) would provide soft skill acquisition for selected women, including physically challenged women in Gombe and Yobe States.
Addressing participants at the event, the National Coordinator, OEAHD, Tabitha Iliya Sallah re-emphasized the significant roles women play in the socio-economic development of the nation, saying skills acquired through the scheme would empower them be useful to themselves and the society.
“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,” she said.
“The fact that this programme 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,” she added.
She commended DBN for sustaining its long-term vision of alleviating financing constraints faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as small corporations in Nigeria, adding that by providing training, mentorship, and access to finance, the bank was creating a nurturing environment for women to thrive in the business world, to bridge the gender gap and promote sustainable economic development.
DBN, she said, has been at the forefront of empowering women in business, with unlimited access to finance and knowledge to prosper and build viable enterprises that would enable them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the socio-economic development of their immediate families and communities.
The OEAHD is a non-governmental organisation that is passionate about assisting the less privileged and vulnerable, particularly women and children and internally displaced persons, etc regardless of race, colour, gender, social status, political affiliations in Nigeria.
While the organization has carried out several humanitarian services in the North-eastern part of the country, their operation is nationwide, with regional offices in Abuja and Gombe. The organisation’s major service areas cover agriculture, health and, education.
The Managing Director of DBN, Tony Okpanachi, affirmed that the training was in line with the bank’s unwavering commitment to strengthening of the capacity of MSMEs in the country to enable them continue to contribute to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We believe 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,” the MD said.
He said till date, about 62 percent of DBN’s lending has gone to women-owned businesses and organizations, most of which are Micro and Small Businesses.
“Our goal is to continue to nurture and empower women across regions in the country, with the ultimate objective being to grow and upscale them from micro to large businesses,” he said.
Okpanachi further disclosed that the beneficiary women have received comprehensive vocational skills training that would enable them to start their businesses or enhance existing ones, thereby improving their overall economic well-being.
