From left: Mrs. Patricia Ahunanya, Chief Compliance
Officer, Unity Bank Plc; Nkechinyere Ojiego, General Manager of Simba
Group; Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, Retail and SME Banking,
Unity Bank Plc; Angela Ajala, Coordinator, ANWBN and Lady Isioma
Fidel-Ewerem, from Women in Renewable Energy at the capacity-building
workshop for women entrepreneurs held recently at Unity Bank HQ in Lagos.
Lagos.02.10.24. Unity Bank Plc has hosted a capacity-building workshop to
support the Association of Nigerian Women in Business Network (ANWBN) in a
move aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills
required to thrive in today’s digital economy.
The initiative for the workshop stems from the growing advancement in
technology and its impact on business hence the theme: “Empowering Women
Entrepreneurs: AI and Digital Marketing Strategies,” which sought to equip
women with practical knowledge on how to harness the power and take
advantage of emerging technology.
As a platform that drew the participation of businesses from diverse
sectors, attendees were provided with tools for leveraging digital
platforms for expanding market reach, building efficiency in business
operations, engaging customers, and increasing brand visibility.
Renowned industry experts and speakers such as Dr. Opeyemi Ojesina, the
Chief Executive Officer of Jesshill Consulting, Nkechinyere Ojiego, General
Manager, of Simba Group, and Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, of
Retail and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc, led impactful sessions at the
workshop designed to help participants grow their businesses by leveraging
cutting-edge technologies and customer-centric marketing strategies
Addressing the media after the event, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola said the
capacity-building initiative was inspired by the need to empower women
entrepreneurs to take advantage of the growing opportunities presented by
the evolving digital marketing landscape.
She said, “The growing digital landscape presents a unique opportunity
for women to scale their businesses. There are over 70% of women
entrepreneurs in Nigeria who desire this kind of capacity-building
programme to improve their businesses, helping them learn how to transition
from traditional business methods to one powered by technology, as this
will become a differentiator”
While commending the partnership with ANWBN and emphasizing the importance
of digital technologies, Mrs. Ambimbola pledged Unity Bank’s commitment
to supporting SMEs, adding that the Bank will often pay priority attention
to female-led ventures to improve relationships and collaboration with
women businesses in Nigeria.
She added: “We are proud of our partnership with ANWBN and the success of
this workshop. Empowering women entrepreneurs is key to driving economic
growth and ensuring sustainable development. We look forward to more
initiatives that support and uplift women in business.”
One of the participants, Mrs. Yetunde Adeniran, a fashion designer, shared
her learning experience explaining that with the insights gained here, she
has now found more ways of integrating digital technology into many facets
of her business. She also highlighted the advantages of Unity Bank’s
Yanga Account, which she noted as a crucial tool for small business owners,
providing financial support tailored to their specific needs.
In 2022, Unity Bank launched Yanga Account to facilitate financial
inclusion for Women. The success of the workshop underscores Unity Bank’s
ongoing commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs in Nigeria as the
Bank seeks to empower women in business by providing access to valuable
resources, financial tools, and educational opportunities that will help
them thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
