Women Empowerment Fund Hosts Empowerment Programme in Lagos

• Women Empowerment Fund (WEF) conducted an empowerment programme for women in Lagos
• It was established by Chantelle Abdul, the Group Managing Director of MOJEC Group
• The program included capacity development and business support activities

The Women Empowerment Fund (WEF), a women-centric economic empowerment drive initiated by Chantelle Abdul, Group Managing Director, MOJEC Group, organized an empowerment program at Lagos.

The event attracted the attendance of over 800 women, most of who were from the informal economy in Nigeria, and included capacity-building activities, business support, and others. As part of the project, a total of 300 women were provided with equipment and funding.

These included 55 grinding machines, 23 industrial sewing machines, 63 hair dryers, and funding that stood at a maximum of ₦12 million.

The project has been designed to support women entrepreneurs in scaling up their entrepreneurial activities from the level of mere subsistence.

Referring, Chantelle stated during the event that the initiative was formed in response to the gaps that existed among women regarding capital, mentorship, as well as economic opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. She pointed out that the fund is directed at ensuring that women receive assistance to enable them to expand their businesses.

Beneficiary Ayomide Oluwasade appreciated that the economic aid would help upgrade her business operations, adding that one of the challenges she faced was a lack of funding.

The event was also accompanied by a panel discussion that brought together representatives of the private sector and development agencies.

The panelists included Mojisola Abdul, Chairman of the MOJEC Group; Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ); Chantelle; and Adebola Oruma, Group Head, Gender Business Group, SME Lending Division, MSME Directorate, Bank of Industry.

The Women's Empowerment Fund is an initiative that focuses on the empowerment of women at the national level and is geared towards enhancing the involvement of women in the economy through the provision of resources and exposure.