The Empower To Thrive Development Initiative has announced the launch of Empower Her Ability, a program designed to empower women with disabilities to succeed in business.
The founder of Empower Her Ability, Dr. Ima Chima made the disclosure on Friday in Abuja that the initiative aims to provide comprehensive support, including financial assistance, business training, and mentorship, to help women with disabilities overcome the unique challenges they face in entrepreneurship.
Dr Chima informed that the Empower Her Ability program is a timely initiative, given the growing need for women’s entrepreneurship and the importance of inclusivity in business.
By providing targeted support and resources, Empower Her Ability aims to unlock the untapped potential of women with disabilities and create a more resilient and prosperous global future.
The programme will include a nine-week virtual business training with accessible materials, including sign language interpretation and Braille materials. Participants will also have access to a one-week boot camp and a six-month mentorship program with bi-weekly industry-specific sessions.
Dr. Chima emphasised the importance of creating a conducive ecosystem for women with disabilities to thrive in business. “We need to challenge societal stigma against people with disabilities and bring in government to support and make sure that the policies in place support people with disabilities in business,” she said.
Dr. Chima also highlighted the importance of policy engagement and community awareness in promoting inclusive economic policies and challenging stigma against people with disabilities.
The executive director, Mimijane Foundation, Mube Beatrice said Persons with disabilities are deliberately excluded from many schemes. Women with disabilities face even greater challenges. Being born a woman in Nigeria automatically makes you a second-class citizen, and when you have a disability, it becomes a triple tragedy. Even fellow women discriminate against you.
The executive director, Mimijane Foundation, Beatrice Mube commended the founder of Empower To Thrive Development Initiative for such initiative the Empower Her Ability program, which aims to economically empower women with disabilities in entrepreneurship.
According to Mube, empowering women in entrepreneurship has a ripple effect on the household, leading to overall economic growth and development.
Also, a representative of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Emmanuela Jighjigh praised the Empower To Thrive Development Initiative for its timely intervention, noting that the Empower Her Ability program will provide critical support to women with disabilities who face unique challenges in business. The program’s focus on economic empowerment, mentorship, and advocacy for inclusive policies will help to promote the rights and dignity of women with disabilities, she added.
“When you empower women, you empower the household,” Mube said, emphasising the importance of economic empowerment for women. She urged the Nigerian government to support women in entrepreneurship, particularly those with disabilities, to unlock their potential and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Mube praised the Empower To Thrive Development Initiative for its timely intervention, noting that the Empower Her Ability program will provide critical support to women with disabilities who face unique challenges in business. The program’s focus on economic empowerment, mentorship, and advocacy for inclusive policies will help to promote the rights and dignity of women with disabilities, she added.
