LAGOS – The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and the Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN) have unveiled the plan to launch the third edition of the GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass for Women in Nigeria.
A join statement by DBN and GAIN, said that this transformative initiative was set to empower 350 women entrepreneurs who would be selected from across Nigeria, providing them with essential skills to foster the growth and expansion of their enterprises over a comprehensive six-week training period.
The statement hinted that the application for GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass for Women (Nigeria)’ opened on September 6, 2024.
According to the bank, the programme would include training and mentorship sessions, which would be held virtually.
The statemen highlighted that the Women’s Masterclass had been meticulously designed to address the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
The program would offer targeted support in areas such as financial literacy, strategic marketing, business modeling, legal aspects of business, structure and processes, customer management, business branding and so much more, enabling participants to fully capitalize on the opportunities available in Nigeria’s growing economy.
Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director, DBN, said that the bank believed that women entrepreneurs were crucial to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s economy.
He reiterated that its partnership with GAIN reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting women-led MSMEs by providing them with the necessary tools, knowledge, and financial empowerment to thrive.
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“By addressing the specific challenges women face in business, we are creating a more inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Through initiatives like this, we aim to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship, ensuring women entrepreneurs have equal access to resources, training, and financing,” he added.
Also, Janet Oladapo, the Programme Officer for GAIN, expressed delight with its collaboration with the DBN.
Oladapo explained that both organsiations had witnessed successes in the previous four editions of the entrepreneurial masterclasses, maintaining that both parties were happy to have extended this opportunity to more women entrepreneurs in 2024.
“This Masterclass not only offers participants more than just high-quality training; it provides them with opportunities to network, receive guidance from seasoned global mentors, and acquire the comprehensive knowledge needed to drive substantial growth in their businesses,” Oladapo added.
The Entrepreneurship Masterclass aligns with the broader missions of both GAIN and DBN.
Both partners remain committed to empowering African youths and women by providing them with skills and resources necessary to drive sustainable economic development across the continent.
DBN, on the other hand, continues to support Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by alleviating financing constraints and creating an enabling environment for their growth.
