Amb. Dr. Nissi Ikenna-Amadi, Founding Executive Director of the African Women Mentoring and Inspiring Initiative (AWMII), expressed great enthusiasm about the opportunity to mentor female entrepreneurs in Nigeria through a program led by GIZ. She described the collaboration as an incredible service to humanity.
Speaking at the Women’s Mentorship Network Workshop held in Lagos, Dr. Ikenna-Amadi highlighted the significance of AWMII’s invitation, along with other organizations, to partner with GIZ and SEDIN in mentoring Nigerian women in business. The event, which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel, aimed to strengthen and support women-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The workshop, hosted by GIZ in collaboration with SEDIN, aligns with AWMII’s mission to empower African women by fostering self-discovery and enhancing their leadership, entrepreneurial, and diplomatic skills. AWMII’s core vision is to facilitate the financial independence of female business owners in Nigeria and across Africa.
At the event, AWMII was given the opportunity to present its achievements and discuss its ongoing efforts in women’s empowerment. The Lagos State Chapter Coordinator, Mrs. Ruth Kakulu, led the session, which drew significant interest and collaboration offers from other stakeholders who share AWMII’s passion for promoting women’s and girls’ education and support systems. AWMII’s contact details were provided to encourage networking and partnership opportunities.
A representative of the Sustainable Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria program also delivered a presentation, emphasizing the importance of mentoring women in business and equipping them with the tools to operate their businesses efficiently, ultimately contributing to societal improvement. The overarching goal is to reduce poverty, achieve gender equality among business owners, and foster economic growth for women in MSMEs.
Following the keynote sessions, participants engaged in breakout discussions. AWMII contributed to Group 2, which explored topics such as building a sustainable network for MSMEs, identifying challenges faced by women in business, and setting both short- and long-term goals for improvement. Each group presented their insights to the larger audience.
In conclusion, Sina Uti-Waziri, Head of Access to Market and Innovation at GIZ, assured participants that all mentors and stakeholders would receive follow-up communications on how to further the mentoring initiative in Nigeria.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Ikenna-Amadi remarked that this partnership with GIZ represents a significant opportunity for AWMII to enhance the capabilities of female entrepreneurs through mentoring. She expressed gratitude to GIZ for the chance to be a driver of positive change.