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Woman activists and leaders have called for urgent and sustained action to promote the rights, empowerment, and economic inclusion of women and girls. They made this call in celebration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) themed, “Accelerate Action,” which was organised by the NECA Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) in collaboration with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN). Speaking at the event, Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank, Dr. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola, emphasised the importance of proactive steps toward gender equity. “Taking action means you cannot sit in one place. You have to move, take that step, and work toward your vision. Excuses are not valid. There are many financial institutions and resources available for women entrepreneurs. Approach them, ask questions, and take bold steps to achieve your goals,” she said.Similarly, Divisional Head, Corporate Banking at Providus Bank, Mrs Olufunke Jones, underscored the need for persistence and resilience. “Acceleration means moving forward, and action means doing something. Every day presents an opportunity to take a step toward your destination. Even when faced with rejection, don’t stop seeking networks, collaborations, and advice. Growth happens when you nurture the seed of your dreams,” she urged. The stakeholders highlighted the financial challenges women face in business. Jones noted that only 12 per cent of available global funding goes to women-led businesses, largely due to unconscious gender biases.She stressed the need for women to explore alternative funding sources, including peer-to-peer lending, grants, microfinance banks, and savings.   Courtesy: Guardian Newspaper

On February 27, 2025, the Kwara State chapter of NNEW held its inaugural meeting of the year, withTheme: “Financial Empowerment.”Topic: “Financial Literacy Bootcamp”Speaker: Mrs. Damilola Olubunmi. Participants were told that to make money work for us we have to work on the following:Savings, Budgeting , Investment She further explains each of them: – Savings: is money set aside rather to be spend – Budgeting: is planning on how to spend – Investment: is putting back your money to get more in the future. Further explained things to do as business owners:* Pay yourself with 10% of your income which must be saved to reinvest for a major purpose or target need for improvement in our business.* Factor in the economic financial decision by knowing what’s going on in the economy and the impact of it in our business.* Reduce your dept to income issues she explains why loan keep you in circles of financial stagnation.* Creating different values of chain from our business by having in mind what’s the need of our business.* Collaboration.* Set money date by going through our expenses to know what to cut down. She also talked about how our income can be spent and it was breakdown into three segment1) Personal financial 10% as savings2) Emergency Fund 20% as unexpected3) Living expenses 70% vacations,rent, transportation, food etc She also talked about different kinds of investment we can invest in and their risk tolerance which was categories as low , medium and high risk with examples of such investments Low risk: Mutual fund, Treasury bill and Federal bondMedium risk: Stock, Real estateHigh risk: Forex, Crypto etc

NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) Pays Courtesy Visit to Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda Lagos, Nigeria – February 12, 2025 The NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the newly sworn-in Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, to congratulate her on her historic appointment as the first female Speaker and to seek her support for women entrepreneurs in the state. During the visit led by the NNEW Vice-President, Mrs Bolanle Edwards, she commended Honourable Meranda for her trailblazing achievement and emphasized the significance of her leadership in inspiring women across Lagos and Nigeria. She highlighted NNEW’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs through capacity building, advocacy, and networking opportunities. “Your ascension to this esteemed position is a testament to your dedication and hard work. We believe that under your leadership, the Lagos State House of Assembly will champion policies that foster an enabling environment for women-owned businesses to thrive,” said Edwards. Hon. Speaker Meranda expressed her gratitude for the visit and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives that promote women’s economic empowerment. She acknowledged the pivotal role of women entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and assured NNEW of her readiness to collaborate on policies and programs that enhance their contributions to the state’s economy. “I am honored by your visit and I do not take it for granted. Please feel free to reach out to my office as I operate open door policy. You can reach out through phone calls, test message, emails”. She said with organizations like NNEW, a more inclusive and prosperous Lagos where women-owned businesses flourish ca be created. The Chairperson of the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) Planning Committee, Mrs. Apollonia Nwanafio, seized the opportunity to invite the Speaker to the NNEW 2025 IWD Celebration scheduled to be held on the 13th of March, 2025, at NECA House. Other members on the courtesy visit are Mrs. Modupe Eka, Uloma Adewusi, the Executive Secretary, Mr. Adeniyi Adeyanju and Temitope Ibrahim, Account Officer The meeting concluded with both parties’ understanding of a collaborative effort to address challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and to advocate for policies that promote gender equality in the business sector.

Ikeja, Lagos – Tuesday, December 24, 2024 – The FCMB Sheventures Mentoring Programme, an initiative of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) designed and implemented by the NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) graduated 215 women entrepreneurs at a virtual ceremony held on Thursday, 19 December 2024 The programme, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs with access to market, the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to thrive in business; successfully mentored  women entrepreneurs across diverse sectors of businesses and the economy at its cohort 11. Over the course of six weeks, participants received expert guidance at different engagements which included  focused group discussions, masterclasses, book review and one-on-one mentorship. The program focused on five core business areas: strategic management, financial management, operations, sales and marketing, and human resources. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Adefunke Kuyoro, President of NNEW, applauded the mentees for their resilience and commitment throughout the program. “This graduation marks not just the end of a journey but the beginning of a new chapter for the mentees. They are now equipped to lead and grow sustainable businesses, and we are proud of the impact they will make,” she said. The virtual ceremony featured a keynote address by Mrs. Nnenna Jagogo-Jack, Head of Women Baking at FCMB, who highlighted the commitment of the bank to women in business. She reiterated the transformative impact of the programme from the last 10 cohort and encourage the graduates to maximise the learning of the past six weeks. In an insightful lecture by Dr. Yemisi Adeyeye, who shared strategies on the presentation titled,“Investment Readiness for Business Owners.” According to Dr. Adeyeye, “Investment readiness is not about luck, it is about preparation, strategy, and demonstrating the value your business brings to the table. She emphasized the importance of building strong financial records, establishing scalable business models, and leveraging mentorship networks to attract and secure investments. The Projet Director, Mrs. Eniola Mayowa, underscored the collaborative efforts behind the mentorship journey. “Our graduates have gained practical skills, resilience, and confidence that will support their entrepreneurial growth. This program demonstrates the power of knowledge-sharing and community,” she said. “The key highlights of the programme included delivery of masterclasses by industry experts; one-on-one mentoring sessions addressing real-world challenges and opportunities; engaging focused group discussion by sectoral grouping and book review session to expand participants’ entrepreneurial vision and increase their ability to dare in the world of business.”Project Director explained. The climax of the graduation ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the excited graduates by the Head of NNEW Academy, Pastor Kemisola T’Oluwanimi. She encouraged the women entrepreneurs to leverage their newfound tools and networks to scale their businesses and contribute meaningfully to their communities. About NNEW NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) is a dynamic organization focused on the growth and empowerment of women-owned businesses in Nigeria. Through mentorship, capacity-building programs, and advocacy, NNEW equips women with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive as entrepreneurs. About FCMBSheVentures FCMB SheVentures Mentoring Programme, an initiative by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), supports women entrepreneurs by providing financial solutions, capacity-building, and access to networks. Through SheVentures, FCMB aims to foster an enabling environment for women to lead successful businesses.

The Kwara State chapter of NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has paid the school fees for 51 pupils at Bishop Smith’s Primary School, Ilorin, for the new academic term. The group aims to help reduce the number of out-of-school children. State Chairperson Mrs. Ayobami Adediran, CEO of Bammy Fabric & Varieties, led the initiative, emphasizing their commitment to supporting education amid economic challenges. Financial Officer Mrs. Maimunat Abdulkareem, CEO of Delish Bakery, urged pupils to focus on their studies. NNEW, Kwara chairperson, Mrs Ayobami Adediran (right) presenting the school fees to the headmistress, Mrs A.T Afolayan. (Picture credit: Moaj) Headmistress Mrs. A.T. Afolayan thanked NNEW, noting that such support significantly helps keep children in school. She encouraged other organizations to follow NNEW’s example. Vice-chairperson Mrs. Bilkis Abdul highlighted NNEW’s role in promoting women entrepreneurs. She, along with other NNEW executives, expressed readiness to continue supporting the government’s educational goals. The visit concluded with NNEW presenting a gift to the school authorities as a token of appreciation.

The Kwara State government has praised NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) for their contributions to women’s development, particularly in business. The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs in Kwara State. Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi expressed his appreciation for NNEW’s impact during a courtesy visit by its representatives in Ilorin. He assured them of the state’s readiness to partner with NNEW to further their progress, highlighting the administration’s dedication to providing opportunities for women under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Mrs. Ayobami Adediran, Chairperson of NNEW’s Kwara chapter and CEO of Bammy Fabric & Varieties, commended the state government for empowering women in governance and decision-making. She emphasized NNEW’s willingness to collaborate with the state to achieve its vision for women in business. Mrs. Oluwatosin Opegbemi, Public Relations Officer and CEO of Ambassador 3T Int’l, noted that NNEW, under the aegis of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), is committed to nurturing women entrepreneurs in Kwara. She stressed that government support is crucial for achieving their goals. Mrs. Mary Ajado, Ex-officio and CEO of Moaj Media Consult, praised the AbdulRazaq administration for its initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs. She highlighted areas needing government intervention and expressed NNEW’s readiness to collaborate in information sharing and networking to foster business growth. Mrs. Bilkis Abdul, Vice-chairperson and CEO of Epitome of Elegance Realtors, thanked the Deputy Governor for his open-door policy and warm reception. The Kwara NNEW executive presented a gift to the Deputy Governor as a token of appreciation.