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Tag: ImpactHER

  • GAWSC 2026: African Union, ImpactHER to examine role of African female entrepreneurs in economic transformation

    GAWSC 2026: African Union, ImpactHER to examine role of African female entrepreneurs in economic transformation

    The African Union, in partnership with ImpactHER, will host the second edition of the Global African Women Sustainability Conference 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria – April 29 – May 1, 2026. The conference is a premier continental gathering that will spotlight the critical role of women entrepreneurs in advancing Africa’s sustainable economic transformation.

    With the theme “Rethink, Reinvent, Regenerate: Women Entrepreneurs as Architects of Global Africa’s Sustainable Future”, the event is expected to attract over 3,000 participants, including senior government officials, investors, development finance institutions, private-sector leaders, policymakers, innovators, and women entrepreneurs from across Africa and the global diaspora.

    Positioned as a high-impact platform for dialogue and action, the conference will foster strategic partnerships, unlock investment opportunities, and accelerate scalable solutions that strengthen women-led enterprises. Through executive panels, technical workshops, enterprise showcases, and curated networking sessions, participants will engage in shaping pathways toward inclusive growth, climate resilience, and sustainable prosperity across the continent.

    Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER, emphasized the urgency of advancing women’s economic leadership:

    “Africa’s economic future depends on the full participation of women. When women entrepreneurs are equipped with capital, markets, and the right ecosystems, they drive innovation, expand industries, and build resilient communities. This conference is designed to catalyze partnerships and mobilize the resources required to scale women-led businesses across Africa and beyond.”

    Participation is fully sponsored, reflecting a shared commitment by convening partners to expand access to opportunity and reduce structural barriers facing women entrepreneurs. Attendees will gain access to tailored business advisory services, brand development support, digital growth tools, and exclusive travel benefits for international participants. Beyond convening stakeholders, the conference aims to deepen cross-border collaboration and attract investment into high-potential women-led ventures, reinforcing Africa’s position within the global sustainability and economic development agenda.

    ImpactHER is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender financing gap by enabling African women entrepreneurs to access capital, scale their businesses, and participate competitively in local and global markets. Through partnerships, capacity-building programs, and digital innovation, ImpactHER continues to advance inclusive economic growth across Africa.

  • Efe Ukala named Global Heroes Executive Role Model 2025

    Efe Ukala named Global Heroes Executive Role Model 2025

    Efe Ukala, President and Founder of ImpactHER, has been named as the global Heroes Role Model for 2025 in the Executive Category by INvolve in partnership with YouTube.

    The global Heroes Role Model Lists which is put together by INvolve and supported by YouTube is meant to showcase leaders who are breaking down barriers at work and smashing the ceiling for women within global business. These inspirational leaders are paving the way when it comes to increasing representation and driving inclusion even in the workplace.

    In her acceptance speech, Ukala noted that being named on the 2025 Heroes list is more than a recognition but a testament to the tireless work ImpactHER has put into empowering over 200,000 African women entrepreneurs with access to trainings, resources and global opportunities. Through the great work being executed by ImpactHER across African and the Caribbean, Ukala has been a driving force for inclusion, equity and economic transformation across Africa.

    “I am deeply humbled to be named to the 2025 HEROES Executive Role Model List supported by Youtube. This recognition belongs to every woman working quietly yet powerfully to create space for others. My selection as a YouTube Hero highlights what we already know: that leadership is about creating lasting change, turning challenges into opportunities and paving the way for women-led businesses to thrive. This achievement is proof that when vision, courage and service come together, the impact resonates far beyond borders”, she hinted.

    Earlier, Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder and CEO of INvolve says: “I’m so thrilled to be celebrating this global group of trailblazing Executives, Future Leaders and Advocates who are working to ensure women in the workplace can thrive. All the individuals featured in our Heroes Role Model Lists supported by YouTube are championing inclusion and leveraging their expertise and knowledge to drive impactful initiatives and strategic change within their organisations. It’s vital that women across global organisations can succeed and achieve career success and these Role Models are essential drivers of change who are smashing barriers to progress. We could not effect change without them leading the way.

  • LASG, Afreximbank Train 253 Export Ready Entrepreneurs, Unveil 20 Trade Champions to IATF Algiers 2025

    LASG, Afreximbank Train 253 Export Ready Entrepreneurs, Unveil 20 Trade Champions to IATF Algiers 2025

    Lagos State Government has successfully trained 253 Small and Medium Enterprises under its Lagos State Export Readiness Program, LASERP. It unveiled 20 outstanding Trade Champions to represent the State and showcase the best Made in Lagos products in the Lagos Pavilion to be hosted at the Intra African Trade Fair, IATF, in Algiers in September.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the unveiling as a new chapter in the story of Lagos enterprise at the graduation and closing ceremony of the programme held in Lagos on Friday.

    Represented by his Special Adviser on Works, Dr. Adekunle Olayinka, the Governor remarked that the gathering was not merely to close a training programme; but to celebrate resilience, acknowledge courage, and commission a new generation of exporters who will carry the banner of Lagos into Africa and the world.

    His words: “When LASERP was conceived, our vision was clear: to prepare Lagos entrepreneurs to compete beyond our shores, to diversify our economy away from the dominance of oil, and to entrench Lagos as the undisputed gateway of trade for Nigeria and the African continent. Today, as we witness the graduation of these exceptional SMEs, we see the manifestation of that vision.

    “Our ambassadors are no longer just local champions – they are export-ready entrepreneurs, positioned to scale, to innovate, and to stand tall in regional and global markets. Already, Lagos contributes more than 60 percent of Nigeria’s non-oil exports, which stood at US$5.3 billion in 2024, and with this graduating cohort of over 250 SMEs, we project an additional US$1 billion in foreign exchange inflows annually within the next five years.

    Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, represented by his Special Adviser on Communications, Media, and Publicity, Dr. Ogho Okiti, commended the visionary leadership of the State, particularly the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, under Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, for initiating LASERP.

    “I also recognise the invaluable partnership of Afreximbank and ImpactHer in making this programme a success. This collaboration demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential. Export diversification is critical to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth. Programmes like LASERP directly support our broader agenda to grow non-oil exports, expand Nigeria’s global competitiveness, and strengthen women-led enterprises and SMEs. It will serve as a model for similar initiatives across Nigeria,” he said.

    Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose expressed that the gathering was for more than a class of graduates, but to celebrate a movement of exporters, innovators and pioneers who will carry the Lagos spirit across Africa and into the world.

    “Under the visionary leadership of Mr. Governor and Mr. Deputy Governor, Lagos has declared boldly: we will not be local champions; we will be global competitors. That is why LASERP was born. To move our SMEs from the streets of Lagos to the shelves of the world. To transform potential into performance. To prepare you not just to meet standards, but to set them. Already, Today is not just another day in our calendar. Today is history in motion. Today is vision becoming reality. Today is Lagos telling the world: we are ready, we are rising, we will lead,” she said.

    Also speaking at the event, Regional Chief Operating Officer, AfreximBank, Allain Thierry Mbongue, affirmed that the programme has set off a new generation of export ready champions who will write the next chapter of Africa’s economic story. “By investing your time and energy, you have positioned yourself not only as business leaders in Lagos but as future exporters whose goods and services would soon carry the proud label; Made in Africa. At Afrexim Bank, we believe SMEs are not just the backbone of African economies, they are the engine that will power Africa’s economic future under AfCFTA. That is why the bank has laid strategic emphasis on SMEs development,” he said.

    Founder/CEO, ImpactHER, Efe Ukala, revealed that the training focused on digital and brand transformation, as entrepreneurs were equipped with what they need to stand out in the digital export world. “During the training, we helped build websites, provided customised digital export marketing strategy, facilitated 5 percent single digit interest loan for participants – two out of which are being processed, as our participants shipped out over a dozen 20-foot containers of goods over the past 6 weeks while 10 businesses secured international trade certification – thus securing long term access to new markets,” she said.

    According to the Director, SME Development, AfreximBank, Ody Akhanoba, the training recognised the importance of SMEs to the African economy, and particularly to Lagos, which is the 5th largest economy in the continent. “I congratulate the SMEs that successfully participated in this programme, this is a testament to your aspiration that what you had was not enough and you devoted good time to acquire what you need to become future export champions. But this is not the end, you really need to leverage on your new skills, be resilient and collaborate to take your place in Africa and global marketplace where you belong. Africa industrial revolution rests on your shoulders,” he declared.

    Sharing experiences with the graduands, Managing Director, Secure ID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, OON charged the graduands to rise above skepticism and remain resilient and committed to global standards, ensuring high quality products and compliance with international certifications. “Commitment to quality and global standards is crucial for entering new markets and gaining international recognition, while you need to start small, scale gradually, understand your target market and devise entry strategy,” she said.

    Managing Partner, Zenforte Partner, Weyinmi Eribo, highlighted 5 principles for the trainees as guides to success; “Prepare deeply because readiness is the foundation of market access; Don’t go alone – clusters and cooperatives are your allies in scaling; See finance as within reach – with the right structures, capital will come; Invest in networks – because trade is built on trust, not just transactions; and Formalise your trade activities – so you can scale under AfCFTA and beyond,” she said.

  • LASG Partners AfreximBank, ImpactHER on Export Readiness Programme for SMEs

    LASG Partners AfreximBank, ImpactHER on Export Readiness Programme for SMEs

    The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, in partnership with AfreximBank- a leading Pan-African multilateral financial institution focused on financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade and ImpactHER-a not-for-profit organization for empowering African female entrepreneurs by bridging the gender business financing gap, has officially launched the Lagos SMEs Export Readiness Programme (LASERP) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of efforts to scale their businesses beyond national borders under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    Speaking during the opening ceremony of the export readiness training programme organised by the Lagos Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment in partnership with AfreximBank and impactHER and held at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the Honorable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Commerce, Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose while delivering her welcome address described the launch as a defining chapter in Lagos state’s collective commitment to expanding the frontiers of international trade participation for our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). She described the initiative’s launch as a bold step towards transforming Lagos-based businesses into globally competitive exporters, building wealth, creating jobs, and amplifying Lagos State and Nigeria’s economic prosperity. She noted that a total of 253 successful SMEs have been shortlisted for the programme.

    “The concept of export readiness is not just a trending term but an economic imperative. In an era marked by regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) operationalisation, we cannot afford to keep our vibrant enterprises confined to domestic markets. Our MSMEs must evolve from local champions to continental contenders. Nigeria, and Lagos State, in particular, has long been regarded as the economic engine of West Africa. But being an engine is not enough if we are not propelling forward. This programme is the vehicle that will drive us into new markets, beyond borders, and into the centre of intra-African commerce,” she said.

    Expressing appreciation to esteemed partners Afreximbank and ImpactHER for their collaboration, commitment to facilitating trade and industrialisation across Africa, and empowerment of women-led businesses on the continent, she noted that the week-long training has been meticulously designed to demystify the export process, build practical skills, and create a clear pathway to cross-border trade participation.

    She stated that the training which kicks on July 4, 2025 will offer participants the opportunity to be immersed in high-value sessions covering export documentation and regulatory compliance, product packaging and labeling standards for international markets, Trade finance and export credit guarantees, understanding logistics, customs, and border procedures, Market entry strategies, especially under the AfCFTA, Digital trade and e-commerce opportunities and Gender-responsive exporting for women-led MSMEs.

    “And that is not all. At the end of this training, 20 outstanding participants will be selected to represent Lagos at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) scheduled to hold in Algiers, Algeria, in September 2025. The Fair is a gateway to over 1.3 billion consumers and provides a chance to engage buyers, investors, partners, and policy influencers from across the continent. Our selected trainees will become Lagos’ Export Ambassadors,” she said.

    In his remarks, the Director, SME development, AfreximBank, Mr. Ody Akhanoba, while congratulating all the lucky beneficiaries of the initiative, noted that the selection is a testament to their dedication to building successful export-oriented businesses and a reflection of the bank’s commitment to expanding into the international market. Akhanoba explained that empowering SMEs with the resources they need via capacity training presents a significant opportunity to increase Africa’s share of exports.

    “We are at the edge of turning on the SME’s capacity to be more competitive in the market. With that in mind, we have taken concrete steps to promote the participation of SMEs in the African landscape through strategic interventions, such as facilitating trade and finance, capacity building, and market access,” he added.

    He disclosed that the bank has contributed significantly to providing training capacity to over 3,000 African SMEs through tailored incubator and accelerator programmes similar to the newly launched Lagos State/AfreximBank Accelerator Programme.

    In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Dr Olugbenga Aina, commended the Lagos State Governor for his purposeful leadership in the areas of commerce and industry, especially in empowering and accelerating the growth of SMES. He described the Accelerator Programme for SMEs as another first that would help to equip Lagos-based SMEs with the necessary technical tools they desire to scale them up to the next level.

    Also speaking, the Representative of ImpactHER’s founder, Clementina Uzogor, explained that the six-week training programme, comprising four weeks of training and two weeks of mentorship, is meant to enhance and scale participants’ export businesses and provide a platform to network with trade experts and other Nigerian WSMEs.

    Uzogor stated further that the major objectives of the programme include building capacity for MSMEs, particularly women, strengthening the Lagos trade ecosystem, market exposure, and trade facilitation, and providing access to promotion opportunities.

  • Experts identify the role of Intellectual Property in business success

    Experts identify the role of Intellectual Property in business success

    Expert speakers at ImpactHER’s 2025 World Intellectual Property Webinar have identified the role that intellectual property plays in helping entrepreneurs achieve business success.

    The webinar which was organised by ImpactHER, was held in partnership with the African Union and had in attendance over 260 female entrepreneurs from 29 African countries and 3 non-African countries.

    According to the Keynote Speaker, Uwa Ohiku, Senior Partner, Jackson, Etti & Edu, intellectual property plays a very vital role in business success some of which includes – helping businesses gain competitive advantage, creating new revenue opportunities, improving access to funding, attracting strategic partners, minimizing legal risks, footprint expansion and earning customers trust.

    She said: “Intellectual Property can help set businesses apart by giving them a distinct brand identity and value. It can also make the business more appealing to investors, acquirers and collaborator with its protected brand value. To access funding, investors and lenders often see registered IP as a sign of value and credibility and can also serve as a market entry strategy when a business is seeking expansion. Protecting IP puts a business under pressure to deliver on its promises and to continuously improve on its goods and services and through such quality, businesses earn their customers’ trust and continued patronage”.

    Panelists who spoke at the webinar on the topic- “Common IP pitfalls for female entrepreneurs”, noted that female entrepreneurs can protect themselves from falling prey of their IPs through Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), early registration before commencement of the business and having a commensurate budget that matches business strength. Jenner Akwale, an intellectual property specialist urged female entrepreneurs to do regular audit of their IP, create a policy that guides their IP, desist from using copyrighted work as their own and must always read all contracts carefully. “There are some investors who would want to hide IP clauses in their contracts, female entrepreneurs need to be very careful about this”, he expressed. 

    Another panellist, Susan Musyoka, noted that female entrepreneurs should embed their IP into their business strategy to foster creativity in their business.  In her own submission, Omotayo Queen Onakoju, the Head of Legal at EbonyLife Studios, explained that female business owners should not be tempted to download free online materials and use it for marketing purposes as this constitutes copyright infringements. “Copyrighted works have two rights- moral and economic. These two go hand in hand and cannot be separated. To use any copyrighted work, they must be given the due credit and must also be paid for it”, she noted.

  • Fidelity Bank Trains 1,276 Women in Digital and AI Skills

    Fidelity Bank Trains 1,276 Women in Digital and AI Skills

    As part of its commitment to empower women with relevant entrepreneurship skills, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, partnered with ImpactHER to host another round of free digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills training for businesswomen. The training, organized by ImpactHER, was held from Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, 2024, and successfully trained 1,276 women entrepreneurs in digital and AI.

    Situating the importance of the training within Fidelity Bank’s strategy, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc said, “Available data points to the fact that women-led small businesses account for over 40% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. This underscores the critical role female entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth.”

    “At Fidelity Bank, we believe that empowering female entrepreneurs with the relevant skills to run successful businesses would go a long way in helping individuals to grow, businesses to thrive and economies to prosper in line with our mandate.”

    The online training, delivered by ImpactHER, covered various topics related to leveraging technology for successful businesses. These included “Getting Started with Email Marketing,” “How to Harness AI for Content Creation as a Small Business Owner,” and “Branding and Positioning.”

    Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER, explained the importance of providing free training: “Statistically, women and girls are 25% less likely to leverage digital technology for basic purposes, 4 times less likely to know how to program computers, and 13 times less likely to file for technology patents. This highlights the importance of equipping African women with digital skills that can be leveraged to scale their businesses. Data shows that Africa can add 180 billion dollars to its GDP by 2025 if we close the e-commerce digital gap. By offering this training at no cost and collaborating with supporters like Fidelity Bank to reach more women, we’re working to make these vital skills accessible to women entrepreneurs who can drive this economic growth.”

    This collaboration demonstrates Fidelity Bank and ImpactHER’s commitment to providing free, high-quality training to women entrepreneurs. By combining ImpactHER’s expertise and Fidelity Bank’s network and support for small businesses, the program aims to create lasting impact in the business community.

    Participants praised the free program’s practical approach and the immediate applicability of the skills learned. The success of this initiative paves the way for future collaborations aimed at empowering more women entrepreneurs across Nigeria through free, accessible training programs. The August 2024 cohort brings the number of women entrepreneurs trained under the partnership to 5,719.

    Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank with over 8.3 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

    The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

  • IWD 2024: ImpactHER to train 250 female entrepreneurs on Market expansion strategies, digital skills

    IWD 2024: ImpactHER to train 250 female entrepreneurs on Market expansion strategies, digital skills

    ImpactHER, Africa’s foremost non-profit organization with a mandate for empowering African female entrepreneurs by bridging the gender business financing gap to help them realize their full economic potential is set to train for free over 250 female entrepreneurs in Lagos as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day holding on 8th March, 2024.

    In partnership with the African Union and supported by other sponsors such as GIZ and Brave Women, the free training which will hold at The Zone, Gbagada will bring together over 250 small and medium-scale female entrepreneurs who are engaged in various business activities where they will undergo training on market expansion strategies, digital skills, packaging and export, business bookkeeping, business financing and various other topics which will help them navigate the challenges of running their businesses.

    According to Clementina Uzogor, Director, ImpactHER, the theme of the training “Inspiring Inclusion: Unlocking Opportunities Using Digital Skills and Market Expansion” is sacrosanct this period as SMEs need to know that business success and expansion is possible once they have a good grasp of the various digital skills available to them. “Excellent use of digital skills will help SMEs create a niche for themselves and reach global customers. This is the essence of this training. We have put together wonderful facilitators to explore in details the various digital marketing skills and how they can help with business and market expansion”, she said.

    She hinted further that this year’s training is of a different make owing to the speakers and facilitators that have been scheduled to impact the women. She said: “The speakers for this year’s celebration have been carefully researched and put together. Olanrewaju Oniyitan, Founder and CEO, W-Holistics Business Solutions; Florence Okafor, Chief Trade Promotion Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council; Olatunde Shobajo, Youtube Expert at Valor Reviews and Chidinma Ndukwe, Social Media Manager, Robert Taylor Media will be on ground to share their business experience and expertise at the training. Our panelists include: Adaku Ijara, MD/CEO, Emerging Africa Asset Management Ltd; Oluwatoyin Aralepo, Director of Finance, Mastercard Foundation; Dr. Oluseyi Olanrewaju, Chief Financial Officer, Digital Reality; Ayishat Olanrewaju, Founder, Corporately Lucid and Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder, Aruwa Capital.

    While enjoining female entrepreneurs to take advantage of this uniquely structured training to enhance business growth, Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER, informed that participants only need to register at https://iwd.onboardingimpacther.org/ and attend the training for free. “We urge all our female entrepreneurs to register for this event. They stand a chance to win $1,000 business grant, free websites and business registration, business advisory and free digital marketing strategy session too. This training is going to be a springboard for a reverberating business success for female entrepreneurs in Lagos and Nigeria” she expressed.

    ImpactHER is an award-winning not-for-profit organization awarded at the African Union as the Best Women SME (small and medium sized enterprises) Support Organization in Africa. The organization has trained over 130,000 female entrepreneurs across the 54 African countries.

  • Fidelity Bank to Empower Free Entrepreneurs with Free Digital Skills Training

    Fidelity Bank to Empower Free Entrepreneurs with Free Digital Skills Training

    Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced plans to host another round of free digital skills training for businesswomen across the country from Monday, 1 August 2022.

    Hosted in partnership with ImpactHer and Google, the course would provide female entrepreneurs with hands-on training on building their brands and selling online, creating a digital marketing plan, setting up their Google MyBusiness account, utilizing data and insights to grow their business, staying productive online amongst others.

    Commenting on the training, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc said, “It has become imperative that female entrepreneurs in Africa are empowered to overcome the lack of digital literacy which impedes them from fully reaping the benefits of the digital transformation underway across  Africa, and the world. We believe providing them this access will help them to thrive in their different businesses.”

    According to Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER, “Statistically, women and girls are 25 percent less likely to leverage digital technology for  basic purposes, 4 times less likely to know how to programme computers and 13 times less likely to file for technology patents. This, therefore, highlights the importance of equipping African women with digital skills that could be leveraged to scale their businesses. Let’s not  forget that data shows that Africa can add 180 billion Dollars to its  GDP by 2025 if we close the e-commerce digital gap.”

    “I have been able to increase sales by 40% after using the tools that were provided to me such as “Google My Business” and people have been calling to order from me and I’ve also been able to reach more customers. I am thankful that I can get people to patronize my business just by tapping  my phone based on the knowledge I acquired at this training”, explained Carine Nneka Achokwu, a participant from the  January 2022 cohort and CEO of Carine Bakery, a company that produces pastries and cakes in Lagos, Nigeria.  

    To register for the free training, please visit https://www.fidelitybank.ng/impacther/

  • Fidelity Partners ImpactHER to Empower 1,052 Female Entrepreneurs with Sales Skills

    Fidelity Partners ImpactHER to Empower 1,052 Female Entrepreneurs with Sales Skills

    Fidelity Bank, a leading financial institution in Nigeria, has collaborated with ImpactHER to support 1,052 female entrepreneurs across the 36 states of Nigeria in addressing the challenges they face in their small and medium-sized businesses.  Through diverse training on digital skills and direct business support, beneficiaries from two cohorts have been able to improve visibility for their businesses and consequently, increase sales.

    The training, which commenced in January 2022, has had two cohorts that lasted for four weeks each, covering a myriad of topics such as Digital  marketing, building your brand and selling online, etc. The participants were also assisted in putting their businesses on Google Maps, thus allowing customers and the global market to easily find and transact business with them.

    Commenting on the partnership, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc said, “It has become  imperative that female entrepreneurs in Africa are empowered to  overcome the lack of digital literacy which impedes them from fully  reaping the benefits of the digital transformation underway across  Africa, and the world. We believe providing them this access will help them to thrive in their different businesses.”

    According to Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER, “Statistically, women  and girls are 25 per cent less likely to leverage digital technology for  basic purposes, 4 times less likely to know how to programme  computers and 13 times less likely to file for technology patents. This  therefore highlights the importance of equipping African women with  digital skills that could be leveraged to scale their businesses. Let’s not  forget that data shows that Africa can add 180 billion Dollars to its  GDP by 2025 if we close the e-commerce digital gap.”

    This intervention is critical as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor for  2019/2020 highlighted that millions of women worldwide have started businesses over the last five years alone: the highest percentage of  these women live in Africa, with approximately 26% of female adults  engaged in entrepreneurial activity yet the World Bank confirms  through data collected in ten African countries that on average,  male-owned companies have six times more capital than female owned enterprises, resulting in monthly profits of female-owned  enterprises that are, on average, 38% lower than male-owned  businesses.

    Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 6.5 million customers serviced across its 250 business offices and digital banking channels. The bank was recently recognized as the Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking & Finance Awards. The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

    The bank boasts of a robust bouquet of products designed to help female-led small businesses run successfully including digital loans and HerFidelity -a proposition comprising exciting features such as capacity development initiatives, access to finance, recognition and networking events, health and wellness programmes, etc, all designed to speak to the yearnings of women.

    Clementina Uzogor, the Programs Director at ImpactHER, highlighted  the importance of helping women with skills like this to take their  businesses to the next level. “At ImpactHER, it is our mission to ensure  that we equip these women with tools for their businesses to thrive”,  she explained.

    She also appreciated Fidelity Bank for working with them to ensure the  programme was successful and impactful. “It is important to let you  know that this is not the end of this training. We will be deepening our  partnership with Fidelity to train and support 5,000 more women-led  small and medium sized businesses in the country before the year runs  out”, she divulged.

    An excited participant from the second cohort, Ms Akinyemi  Oluronke, a fashion designer from Lagos underscored the benefits of  joining the training for her business, “I’ve been able to build an online  presence, people now know my business exists and I get a lot of calls  from people who found my business online. I am very grateful for this  platform and the overall increase in sales I now enjoy.” 

    According to Carine Nneka Achokwu, another participant from the  January 2022 cohort and CEO of Carine Bakery, a company that  produces pastries and cakes in Lagos, Nigeria, “I have been able to  increase sales by 40% after using the tools that was provided to me  such as “Google My Business” and people have been calling to order  from me and I’ve also been able to reach more customers. I am  thankful that I can get people to patronize my business just by tapping  my phone based on the knowledge I acquired at this training.” 

    ImpactHER is an impact-driven nonprofit organization that empowers  African female entrepreneurs by bridging the gender business  financing gap so as to assist them in realizing their full economic  potential. ImpactHER has since its inception trained, directly supported with investor-readiness and  business scalability skills & tools to over 44, 275 women across 53 countries in Africa.

    This partnership also provides follow-up training and support for the  participants and is one of the ways ImpactHER and Fidelity Bank help  these women scale up their offerings.