US Consulate invites 250 female entrepreneurs to participate
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Application for participation in the 2022 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is now open and will close on 7 April, the United States Consulate General in Lagos has announced.
AWE, an American government initiative, advances women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and has trained more than 520 participants since its inception four years ago.
Up to 250 female entrepreneurs will be selected for it this year, and a tripartite agreement has been signed between the US Consulate General, Venture Garden Foundation (VGF), and Ascend Studios Foundation (ASF) to support the program.
AWE is part of the commitment of the US to supporting women’s full and free participation in the Nigerian economy as they seek to thrive in the workforce, succeed as entrepreneurs, and create stability and prosperity in their communities.
US Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Foltz, VGF Group Head Tesilimi Yusuf, and ASF Inya Lawal signed a Statement of Intended Cooperation (SIC) to equip 250 Nigerian women with practical skills to create sustainable businesses through AWE.
Foltz reiterated at the event held at the American Corner in Ikeja that the successes of the AWE scheme illustrate how the training can change lives, bolster enterprises, create jobs, and empower women entrepreneurs.
“The Venture Garden Foundation team will bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program in Nigeria,” she said.
“We are confident that their contributions to and engagement with the AWE participants will result in improved leadership, public speaking, time management, self-confidence and financing options.”
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Importance of women’s contribution to the economy
Yusuf highlighted the importance of helping women to fully participate in and contribute to the local and global economy.
“Technology makes business growth possible. As a technology company, our support for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs will ensure that we help prospective and emerging women entrepreneurs and business owners compete more effectively with a whole array of cutting-edge technological solutions,” he said.
Lawal explained that 250 participants will be selected for the 2022 AWE, a highly competitive entrepreneurship scheme that has graduated over 520 participants since its inception in Nigeria in 2018.
According to her, the AWE initiative is a great opportunity for Nigerian women entrepreneurs to gain university-level business and management training, strengthen their networks, and grow sustainable businesses.
“We warmly welcome Venture Garden Foundation to the AWE family. AWE is a transformative initiative that is helping women in Nigeria build and sustain their businesses; the opportunities that come from this program are immense,” Lawal stressed.
AWE graduates gain automatic membership of the US government exchange alumni community, providing access to a vast network of like-minded and highly regarded professionals across Nigeria.
Applications are open until 7 April.
Motivated and self-driven prospective women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners can apply at no cost by filling out the application form via http://bit.ly/AWENIGERIA2022.
Apply Now!