In its unwavering dedication to empowering women across Africa, Flourish Africa, has empowered 100 female entrepreneurs.
This will be carried out through its renowned Business and Life Skills Training Program, a fresh cohort of 100 deserving women poised to receive transformative seed grants, having successfully navigated a rigorous selection process, including a compelling pitch competition.
This initiative stands as a beacon of empowerment, showcasing Flourish Africa’s steadfast commitment to fostering the growth and success of women entrepreneurs on the African continent.
At its seventh annual conference, the Flourish Africa announced an increase in the Flourish Africa Female Entrepreneurs’ business seed grants, now raised from N2 million to an impressive N3 million. This initiative aligns with Flourish Africa’s ambitious goal to empower at least 2500 female entrepreneurs over the next five years.
Since 2022, Flourish Africa has successfully trained over 1,005 female entrepreneurs, disbursing N200 million in grants to 200 deserving recipients.
Speaking at the seventh Annual Flourish Africa Conference 2023, themed ‘She-Champions: Fostering Economic Growth and Participation in a Digital Economy’, the founder, Apostle Folorunso Alakija emphasised the initiative’s role as a knowledge-sharing platform.
She stated that the conference serves as a catalyst for impact-driven women, addressing diverse areas crucial to their growth and development.
The Flourish Africa founder highlighted “the program’s success in positively impacting thousands of lives through various interventions. Since the inception of the N1 billion grant program in 2021, 200 women have received support totaling N400 million, injecting capital to expand businesses and creating community impact. In addition to financial support, over 1,000 women entrepreneurs have benefited from world-class business training.”
The chief executive officer of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mrs. Somachi Asoluka, said the critical role of women in fostering economic growth in a digital economy, acknowledging the undeniable economic power of women as a force capable of reshaping the world.
She commended Alakija for championing gender equality and providing a platform for the exchange of ideas, asserting that the economic power of women is a transformative force.
To bridge the digital gender gap, she called for collective efforts from both the public and private sectors, stating that the untapped potential of half the global population must be unleashed for nations to prosper.
Addressing the critical importance of business structure and access to funding, Regional head of the Bank of Industry (Lagos Region), Dr. Jack Kings highlighted challenges faced by businesses in Nigeria, saying that these challenges include limited access to finance, high costs of doing business, lack of trained manpower, poor bookkeeping practices, and vulnerability to market fluctuations.
On her part, the founder of Money Africa, Dr. Temi Adeyemi emphasised the need for entrepreneurs to define growth and leverage technology for business success.
The event also featured a panel discussion with distinguished speakers exploring the transformative power of innovation and inclusive growth in the digital era.
Flourish Africa is the women empowerment movement founded by Mrs Folorunso Alakija to serve as a catalyst for female empowerment and development.
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