German NGO and company unveil impact fund to promote female entrepreneurship – The Sun Nigeria
Skilled Women Initiative (TSWINI), a non-profit organization supported by a German company, has unveiled the “TSWINI Impact Fund” aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among women living in IDP camps.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fund will particularly focus on supporting 10 women for a period of 12 months to start their businesses.
It is expected to showcase innovations that will contribute to economic growth and development in Nigeria.
NAN also reports that the fund was made with the support of GIZ, the Nigerian-German Center for Employment, Migration and Reintegration, among others.
Ms. Chisom Nwankwo, Founder of TSWINI, said the fund would promote entrepreneurship and empower women to support themselves and their families.
“This impact fund aims to support women who have completed a 24-month training program in different fields like sewing, baking, soap making, among others.
“We will provide work space for women in Kaura market in Abuja.
“We will also provide equipment for the women and also support one child from each of the women by paying their one-year pension.
“There is also a one-year health insurance scheme for women and this will be done in partnership with the national health insurance scheme.
“Going forward, the organization also plans to register at least one trademark with NAFDAC.
“With this, we believe it will go a long way towards solving the problems of poverty and unemployment of women living in IDP camps and moving them towards social integration,” she said.
Nwankwo revealed that the organization has also trained more than 300 men in the IDP camps in fish farming, barbering and capentary.
“In the Malaysian IDP camp, there’s a big fish farm that some of the men we’ve trained are looking after.
“We have also provided space for the men to market and sell their products in the Kaura market.
“We believe the initiative will heal these people from post-event trauma due to the crisis,” she said.
For her part, Ms. Tolu Olaiya, Coordinator of the Nigeria-German Center Abuja, said she was excited about the impact fund, adding that it came at the right time.
“This will allow women to look forward to leaving the camp and moving towards social integration.
“It will also help improve the livelihoods of those women who are committed to making a difference in their society,” Olaiya said.
Mrs. Zara Musa, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude to the organization for its support promising that she would be committed and consistent in her activities to ensure that it was well used.
“We have benefited from this fund and we can assure you that this business we have started will enable us to leave the camp by next year and integrate socially,” Musa said.
NAN also reports that the highlight of the event is the presentation of the business registration certificate and smartphones for social media marketing to all recipients. (NOPE)
