Nigeria Launches Platform to Empower 10 Million Women

• Nigeria has officially launched the Happy Woman Platform which helps 10 million women achieve financial independence
• The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Intelligent Innovations are running the platform

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in conjunction with Intelligent Innovations has officially launched the Happy Woman Platform, an innovative national initiative aimed at empowering 10 million women within Nigeria for financial viability and sustained growth.

The Happy Woman Platform is a comprehensive online ecosystem providing access to financing, skills training, digital tools, mentorship, and supportive community for women ranging from small business owners, professionals, to high value creatives across Nigeria.

The organizers indicated that the platform will allow women to access business financing and growth tools include loans for scaling ventures. Examples include training, mentorship, and skill-building programs for enhancement of employability and entrepreneurship.

Health and wellness benefits: affordable health insurance and wellness initiatives through partner organisations.

Participants will commence with training in financial management to enable them to understand how to better use money for business growth. The initiative further connects women entrepreneurs with low-interest loans, equipment financing, and inventory support through partner financial institutions.

In addition, there is the identification and support of 1,000 women entrepreneurs with innovative ideas through a national business challenge, giving them the opportunity to secure grants, loans, or investors.

Another program will focus on promoting female digital creators through the training, mentoring, and content creation tools they need to establish sustainable businesses online towards a community of10, 000 women.

Upon the announcement of this program, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim described it as a giant step towards inclusive economic empowerment.

"This program is part of the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure women, from all walks of life across Nigeria, have equal access to opportunities, funding and digital inclusion," she added.

Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Co-founder of Happy Woman, said the platform is very optimistic; it would improve access to finance and information, better placing women in the contribution to Nigeria's economic growth.

The platform will serve as a national connector, connecting women to various partners in financial services, consumer goods, insurance, and technology.

The initiative will seek to create jobs, enhance entrepreneurship, and ensure an inclusive economic growth across the country by enabling access to the much-needed resources and opportunities.