By Juliet Onyema
Copyright businessday
In a bid to promote economic growth and women’s empowerment, the NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), a strategic arm of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), said it has implemented targeted interventions that have helped women entrepreneurs stay ahead of the curve.
The association also said it has trained over 350 women entrepreneurs and empowered over 1,000 businesses across Nigeria through training, finance, and mentorship programmes.
This was disclosed at a recent press briefing for the 20th Anniversary celebration, themed ‘Evolve, Elevate and Celebrate.’
Despite progress, women-owned businesses in Nigeria still contend with barriers to credit, limited market access, and weak policy support, underscoring the need for stronger advocacy and institutional backing.
Bolanle Edwards, vice president of NNEW, stated that these programs have not only sharpened business skills but also helped women embrace technology and the digital economy, ensuring they remain relevant in an ever-changing market.
According to Edwards, over the years, a robust mentorship system, pairing emerging entrepreneurs with seasoned business leaders, peer-to-peer learning circles, and business clusters, has provided safe spaces for sharing challenges, exchanging ideas, and building confidence.
“The event will bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, business leaders, and development partners, featuring high-level dialogues on innovation, policy, and the future of women-led businesses,” she noted.
Lara Odebunmi, chairman of the 20th Anniversary Planning Committee, described the journey as two decades of vision, resilience, and impact, adding that NNEW had grown in leaps and bounds, marked by continuous learning, mentorship, empowerment workshops, and lasting partnerships across our various chapters.
“We have made remarkable strides, especially in the digital space, through initiatives like WIDB (Women in Digital Business), which has empowered over 1,000 businesses,” Odebunmi said, adding that NNEW’s business mentorship programmes and collaborations with financial institutions have also been instrumental in advancing women’s entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
The two-day event, which is scheduled to be held on 8th and 9th October 2025, at NECA House, Ikeja, will include a keynote address from Toyin Sanni, executive vice-chair at Emerging Africa Capital, and a leading voice in Africa’s investment and financial landscape, among others.
“One of the highlights of this anniversary will be the unveiling of our 10-Year Strategic Plan, an ambitious roadmap that will usher in the Ruby Generation of entrepreneurs,” Odebunmi said.
