Flourish Africa, a non-governmental, female empowerment organization founded by Africa’s leading businesswoman and philanthropist, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, has completed training for 501 female entrepreneurs and beneficiaries. This is in line with the Flourish Africa Business and Life Skills Training Program.
Out of 501 trainees, 100 got startup funding of up to N2 million apiece for their firms after winning a business presentation competition. Apostle Folorunso Alakija, the creator of Flourish Africa, congratulated the second batch of entrepreneurs on successfully completing the 4-month training program during a recent ceremony in Lagos.
She exhorted the beneficiaries to put their training knowledge and abilities to use, and those who get grants to make a difference in their respective fields of impact, but also help to Nigeria’s economic prosperity. She emphasized her excitement at the lasting influence Flourish Africa has had on thousands of women, as evidenced by the success of their enterprises in becoming established and beneficial to their communities.
“We are delighted to report that Flourish Africa is gradually becoming a household name in Nigeria for women’s empowerment in all aspects of life.” We have convened here to celebrate the accomplishment of the second batch of 501 female entrepreneurs who have finished a 4-month Business and Life Skills training program, she stated.
She thanked all partners for their assistance and encouraged other public-spirited individuals and organizations to join them in this noble cause through financing, training, mentorship, and advisory services. She stated that partnership would go a long way in scaling up the training, not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.
Ms. Em Ekong, the West Africa Regional Director of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, who spoke on the topic “Boosting African Economies through Female Entrepreneurship,” praised the founder for the great initiative as well as her invaluable role in providing access to the much-needed business skills and funding required for female entrepreneurs to propel their businesses.
Dr. Kings Jack, Regional Director, Bank of Industry, Nigeria, who was represented at the event by Adebola Oruma, Group Head, Gender Business Group, Large Enterprises Directorate, noted that the agency has multiple platforms for women to get the right support, including access to funding.
According to Jack, the organization is deeply devoted to industrializing Nigeria by providing advocacy, business consulting services, and access to capital to structured enterprises.
Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya, one of the recipients who spoke on behalf of the 501 female entrepreneurs, expressed great gratitude to Flourish Africa for providing a forum for women to learn crucial insights into the complexities of running a successful business. She remarked that they are now empowered to contribute effectively to the nation’s economic progress while also impacting the lives of other women.
The four-month Business and Life Skills Training program, which is aimed at female-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), aims to raise the continent’s next generation of economically empowered women. Starting with Nigeria, the objective is to empower the entrepreneurial activities of at least 2,500 female business owners over a five-year period by providing funds and structured training and equipping them with the skills needed to manage successful and financially sustainable firms.
501 selected female entrepreneurs were exposed to world-class training and business mentoring from industry experts on various modules ranging from business strategy, finance strategy, legal and regulatory requirements, marketing strategy, and Human Resources Management, among others, during the intensive training program.
The graduates were inducted into the coveted Flourish Africa Alumnae Association, which has been positioned to become a knowledge and expertise powerhouse for African female-owned businesses, in addition to the seed money provided to the 100 finalists.
