Participants at the WEConnect International Africa Regional Conference, Wednesday in Abuja, have advocated for increased opportunity for women in business in the continent.
WEConnect International is a global organisation that facilitates gender inclusive sourcing by connecting women owned businesses with opportunities from 180 of the world’s largest corporations.
Speaking during the conference, WEConnect International Country Director/ Cluster Lead West Africa, Mr Yeshua Russel, said the organisation reduces barriers that prevent women business owners from connecting to each other, and to new market opportunities.
According to him, “The Africa Regional Conference 2023 is Africa’s prime conference for women owned businesses with a focus on supplier diversity and inclusion, bringing regional leaders in the private, government and development sectors together with women owned businesses in bridging the digital and business gender divide in corporate procurement.
“WEConnect educates women business owners on accessing new markets and growing their companies, as buyers on how to identify and source from women-owned businesses.”
Blueprint reports that the conference, which attracted 400 participants, held simultaneously in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
Also speaking, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, said addressing the challenges being faced by women in business was crucial to social economic development.
Ahmed, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mrs Olushola Dada, said access to finance would boost the morale of women globally and harness their entrepreneurial skills for effective management of their businesses.
“This conference would create an enabling environment, as well as increase collaboration among stakeholders; I am particularly enthused about the theme: Impact Through Connection. This aligns with the commitment towards enhancing gender inclusiveness and connecting women-owned businesses with opportunities from 180 of the world’s largest corporations.
“It is therefore my expectation that this conference will examine best practices and strategies to support and encourage more participation of women-owned businesses to thrive, and be competitive globally,” she declared.
On his part, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mammon Ahmadu, disclosed that the bureau had received several nudges towards improving the involvement of businesses owned by women in public procurement.
The DG, who was represented by the BPP Chief Procurement Officer, Eugenia Ojeah, the provision for preferential procurement in the on-going amendment to BPP Act, 2007, would cater for increased women participation in public procurement.
While acknowledging the challenges women face in terms of policy drive and establishment of the legal framework for the actualisation of economic goals, stressed the need for women-owned businesses to take advantage of the platform currently provided by the PPA, 2007 and all extant regulations and policy documents on public procurement as it provides a wide wing for women to thrive.
“When women acquire training, information, skills coupled with specific expertise, commitment, accountability and dedication, the train of diversity and inclusion will move very fast and more smoothly.
“The BPP has a very standard training department to assist to provide training to aid participate for and has some formidable women working in the organisation and it will be a pleasure to see more women participation in public procurement through effective collaboration and networking,” he added.
Similarly, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, acknowledged that women play a critical role in National development hence the need for women to network and work together to grow the country’s economy.
Okechukwu, who was represented by the Director Digital Media, Hajia Sani, further stated, “We believe that Nigeria can only grow when the larger percentage of our population, who are women, are part of everything that we do.”
The Executive Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs Pamela Shodipo, decried that fact that though women accounted for 50 per cent of the world’s population they were the largest percentage of people living in extreme poverty.
“This high level of poverty is due to the fact that women are constantly confronted by discrimination and inequality.
“All over the world, women face violence, exclusion, abuse, and unequal treatment at work, at home, and in their wider communities. They are often denied opportunities to learn, to earn and to lead.
“It is worthy of note that compared to their male counterparts, women have lower access to resources, make less money, have greater health and safety risks, and hold fewer political offices.
“To bridge this gap, policymakers and financial institutions must create an enabling environment that facilitates access to financial services for women entrepreneurs.
“This can be achieved by developing targeted financial products, and training programmes, that are aligned with the specific needs of women.”
Highlights of the conference were panel discussions on diversity and inclusion for women, access to financial services and opportunities, and strategic use of agri-businesses for economic development.
