Access Bank supports 2,200 women in SMEs

Access Bank Plc said it has provided skills support to 2,200 women in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, through the Womenpreneur business workshop, a flagship training of the bank’s W Academy initiative.

The bank disclosed this in a statement following the recently concluded Season 2 of the transformational workshop which held in Abuja and Port Harcourt for 350 female entrepreneurs.

“Since its introduction, more than 2,200 business women across six states of the country have benefitted from the workshop with testimonials around increase in their business networks and improved business models in spite of the economic constraints. The women have also enjoyed hand holding opportunities and access to markets provided by the bank,” the stamen added.

Speaking on the purpose of the workshop, Group Head, Product Sales of Access Bank, Mrs. Ope Wemi-Jones, said bank has continued to drive women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria.

“Since 2006, the bank has continued in its commitment to help women overcome the cultural and financial barriers toward harnessing their potentials both as women and business owners, one woman at a time,” she added.

According to Wemi-Jones, the Womenpreneur business workshop is intended to educate and enlighten Nigerian women on the fundamentals in business which would eventually help them attain their full potentials.

She stated: “The Womenpreneur business workshop was designed to address the lack of access to entrepreneurial skills, finance, networking and management skills which are the key barriers to women’s economic inclusion. The objective is to provide a discounted and practical capacity building program that would expose female business owners to the nation’s economic reality as well as help them simplify processes and sharpen the requisite skills needed to grow their businesses.”