ABEOKUTA – Women entrepreneurs in Ogun state have called on the state government to give zero-interest loans to give them in order to cushion the effect of the harsh economy on their businesses.
The Convener, My Beadsworld Women Foundation, Oluwatosin Aisha disclosed this on Saturday in Abeokuta at a workshop to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.
Aisha noted that more zero-interest loans from the government saying that the journey of entrepreneurship without support aid, and finance is hard.
She also advised the participants at the summit to utilize the networking opportunity, adding that the programme was to support customers and women in society who are doing business, so they can get better.
She said, “The government should help us in terms of access to funds and organize training programs for us. We want to urge Ogun First Lady to relaunch her zero loan scheme in partnership with Sheventures, such initiatives can help business to grow”.
“The major challenge women face is fund management. Some don’t have access to capital in terms of grants to start up their business, while others don’t know how to manage such funds when they have it. Many women spend more than what they make on business. They have allowed their problems to overwhelm their business forgetting that problems don’t end. So we teach them how to overcome barriers”.
“We have more entrepreneurs getting better through this kind of seminar. Some of them have opened new branches through the business strategies we taught them and new grant techniques”.
In her remarks, the Deputy Gov. of Ogun State Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele has told the women folk to embrace themselves in business development.
Salako said that it was high time the women changed the narrative of hidden knowledge and ideas.
She also called on women entrepreneurs to prioritize integrity in their businesses, maintaining that integrity is the hallmark of success in business parlance.
According to her, “We need to change the narrative of don’t let me share, they will take my ideas all that. Stop this mentally of “ti is enibata afowo boni. Ibiti obafi owobomo Loma bajesi ooo”. So, let us share what we have.
“Take teachers for instance, they don’t forget ABC because they have taught you, the more people are empowered through you the more blessing comes to what you are doing.
“Go to people who are doing well in their endeavor, meet with them, learn from them, copy them, the market is limitless, especially for a country that has a high population, you know there are countries in West Africa that they don’t have a population of Ogun State, and they are country.
“Another thing that I will mention here is integrity, many people who are doing small-scale business, lack integrity, I can tell you, that some of them will supply less than what they promise. Some will even post on Instagram, gone are those days when we go to Idumota to buy clothes, you will see them and touch them in the market but at the end of the day when you get home it is another thing that they will pack for you”.
In her submission, the former Honorable Commissioner for Trade and Investment Kikelomo Longe admonished women folk to strive for positive change.
She added that it is pertinent for women to be good role models for the coming generations while celebrating Mrs. Aisha Oluwatosin for her consistency in the entrepreneurship world.
In her submission, the lead speaker at the event and Founder, Ope Farms, Mrs Olusola Sowemimo charged the women to go global by engaging in self-development, business development and global readiness to attain the sustainability level of their career.
She spoke about “Let’s Go Global key to a sustainable business. The audience was made up mostly of young entrepreneurs looking to scale. I took them through three phases ranging from Self Development to Business development and “Global Readiness as an empowerment to enable women to collaborate seamlessly and network with potential partners, suppliers, and clients from around the world. This will foster innovation and creativity“.
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