U.S. Consulate launches academy for women entrepreneurs
As part of its effort to teach women around the world become successful entrepreneurs, the United States Consulate General in Lagos recently launched Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).
During a week-long programme, various group of 100 women selected from a team of over 6,000 applicants, will receive lessons on business management, network with like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors, and learn the practical skills required to create successful and sustainable businesses.
Declaring the workshop open, U.S. Consul General Claire Pierangelo, explained that the programme which is the US Department of State initiative aimed to encourage women entrepreneurs globally.
She noted that women’s empowerment will be key to Nigeria’s long-term economic development.
“One of the U.S. government’s goals is to promote entrepreneurship worldwide. Through the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, we are doing just that by giving these ambitious businesswomen the skills they need to take their ventures to the next level,” she said.
Consul General Pierangelo described the role of women as crucial for the progress of national economies. “Women are the backbone of society no matter what country you are in. When women are working, the country is working,” she noted.
Leading local business leaders will help facilitate the workshop. They include: Inya Lawal, alumna of the Fortune-u.s. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership programme; Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, Academic Director, Owner-manager Programme at the Lagos Business School; Hansatu Adegbite, Executive Director at Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ); and Teju Abisoye, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.
In addition, participants will receive access to DreamBuilder, a blended businesstraining course developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company Freeport-mcmoran.
The AWE is a component of the White House Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, designed to empower women worldwide to fulfill their economic potential, thereby creating conditions for increased stability, security, and prosperity for all.
Under the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations headquarters in New York has conferred a Special Consultative Status on Vicar Hope Foundation, an NGO.
This conferment of the special status is contained in a letter addressed to Vicar Hope Foundation (a pet project by wife of Abia State Governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu) from the United Nations and signed by Marc-andre Dorel, acting chief, NGO Branch office of Inter-governmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
According to Chika Ojiegbe, chief press secretary to wife of Abia State governor, with this status, Vicar Hope Foundation can have observers and representatives at the United Nations General Assembly, the UN ECOSOC, the Human Rights Council and public meetings of other United Nations Intergovernmental bodies.
According to the United Nations, organisations in general and special status like Vicar Hope Foundation are able to submit written statements relevant to the work of the Council on subjects in which these organisations have a special competence.
Nkechi Ikpeazu, founder of Vicar Hope, while reacting on the honour done to her pet project, said the recognition would give greater impetus to the Foundation’s work on women empowerment.
She further said that the status would increase opportunities for greater collaborations with local and foreign NGOS and increase the capacity of her NGO to deliver on its mandate be