Fifty women drawn from eight local government areas of Kano State have benefitted from a two-day business and financial literacy training organised by Bridge Connect Africa Initiative under its Women Against Violence, Empowered Through Sustainability (WAVES) Project.
At the event, the project lead, Mr. Nathan Boko, who is in charge of technical and donor engagement, explained that the initiative is aimed at empowering women economically to live lives free from violence and abuse.
According to him, the current training forms part of the second phase of the WAVES Project, funded by the French Embassy through the Fund for Civil Society Organizations, noting that the first phase, held between late 2024 and early 2025.
“This component focuses on building women’s capacity to manage and grow their businesses.
“After equipping them with vocational and agricultural skills, we want them to learn how to monetize those skills, attract more customers, increase profitability, and sustain their enterprises.”
He said beneficiaries include survivors of gender-based violence, women vulnerable to abuse, those engaged in agribusiness, and women living with disabilities, reflecting the project’s inclusive approach.
He highlighted that, so far, the WAVES Project has trained participants in gender-based violence awareness and climate-smart agriculture, with the business and financial literacy module serving as the third major component.
Boko emphasised that the selection of participants was done in collaboration with partner organisations working closely with women in local communities who provided referrals of women already engaged in small-scale businesses, as well as those recovering from the impact of violence and discrimination.
He added that the overarching aim of the WAVES Project is to strengthen women’s resilience, boost their economic independence, and promote sustainable livelihoods across Kano State.
In her remarks, one of the participants, Salamat Musa, said, the training has improved her knowledge on how to brand and add value to her business.
