The 2-month training started with an orientation program where participants gave a pitch about their businesses and continued with an in-depth training and coaching in different areas like: The Psychology of doing Business, Art of Selling, Branding, HR, Financial Literacy, Pricing Techniques, and Networking.
At the end, participants were issued certificates and awards/support for their businesses. They also received items such as deep freezers, industrial sewing machines, ovens, grinding machine, industrial burners, and support for purchase of motorbikes, farming tools, shops, branding and packaging.
The founder of Mumsbooth Empowerment Initiative and co-organiser of the program, Mrs Martha Tawiyah in her address expressed gratitude over the success of the training.
She said; “We are super excited about the impact this program will create in these businesses and are thankful to Celebrations Cards and Gifts NG for powering this program as their CSR project.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, General Manager, Celebrations Group, Kenneth Emelifonwu said Project Advance is an annual CSR program of the organisation with the aim to support businesses that have the potential to scale and impact the knowledge the organisation has garnered over the years from doing business in Nigeria.
“We chose to run this CSR program with women owned businesses because we have the understanding that women are generally disadvantaged in the African setting not minding the fact that they have an enormous ability of becoming far better in their different endeavours.”
Participants at the training gained knowledge on Enhanced Business Acumen and Practical training in Finance, Marketing, Sales, HR and ability to make more informed business decisions.
Speaking further on the impact of her organization and the motivation, Tawiyah said, “I have come to realize that we need to have more programs like this. One of the participants came to me all emotional and thankful for the program because for 6 years she had tried to save towards getting an industrial sewing machine but today through the Project Advance program, she finally has one.
“I believe programs like this would inspire other organizations to empower more female owned businesses, as it’s impact cannot be over emphasized. I remember sharing sharing stories like this and the impact of our work with other women at the Forbes Woman Africa Summit in Johannesburg earlier this year. This triggered more commitment to impact our community across Africa at large. I’m using this opportunity to call out more organizations to carry out similar CSR projects to push female owned businesses.”
“On our part, We are constantly looking forward to more opportunities for women and ask organizations to emulate programs like this to empower women in our community.”
