Women's business skills under utilised –Experts
June 13, 2014 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Organisers of the 2014 Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship conference have suggested women empowerment as a means of boosting the financial status of the continent.
The experts, who spoke on Thursday, argued that females were more business-oriented, urging that female entrepreneurial skills should be tapped.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the conference planned forJune 26 in Lagos, the business managers added that women entrepreneurial skills were needed for growth in their companies.
One of them, Managing Director, Montgomery West Africa, Ms. Tori Abiola, explained that it was important to make women job creators and not job seekers.
She said, "Entrepreneurship is not well-organised in Nigeria, especially for women. There is a lack of support and fund for start-up business. There are many opportunities for women but they do not have enough finances. Women who are saving for business purposes should be empowered.
"Women should be given more access to partnership and financial advice. There should be an assured financial cycle for women. Women must be taken seriously; they are key players in the country's economy. Women must also be trained on building their confidence. A lot of women don't have the confidence to take risk and that is part of the challenges they are facing."
Also, Managing Director, Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited, Ms Ononuju Irukwu, added that lack of investment education remained one of the major factors affecting female entrepreneurs.
"There is a need to bring about a lot of education for investors. There is disconnect between practical and theories of wealth management. One of the things people don't pay attention to is retirement plan, investment skills and budget management. Women need opportunity to increase their investment. If women can make about 50 per cent profit from a business, then we should focus on them.
Director of Guono, Nigeria, Ms. Ejiro Jakpa, while noting that the conference would create a platform to meet influential women in African business, urged women not to be frustrated with the challenging business environment.
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Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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