By Lucy Ogalue
The Association of Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN) in collaboration with Unity Bank Plc has empowered over 5,000 women-led enterprises across the country.
Adenike Abimbola, the Divisional Head for Retail, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Banking, Unity Bank Plc, said this on Tuesday in Abuja.
Abimbola spoke at an event organised by both organisations to mark the International Women’s Day with the theme: “Building Sustainable Entrepreneurial and Financial Skills for Women in Challenging Times.”
She noted that the partnership with the association had enabled the empowerment of Nigerian women with skills and credit facilities in a single digit interest fee.
She said: “We have been supporting this association for over many years now. Our women-based product called the Yanga has given so much to so many women.
“The Yanga product has a free HMO for all the women who open account with Unity Bank.
“It is free for all of them to go to the hospital to do any checkup or whatever to certain limits under the HMO management portal.”
Earlier, the National Coordinator of ANWBN, Mrs Angela Ajala, said the association comprised of over 90 women business groups with over five million members.
“Nowadays, it is more crucial than ever to equip women with the tools, resources, and knowledge needed to thrive as entrepreneurs and financial leaders.
“We are here to celebrate International Women’s Day on behalf of the ANWBN, which is a coalition of women organisations who are in charge of over 90 female organisations with over five million women.
“Many women now are weary, tired, they do not know the new trends because things have changed, so we want to inspire them into being included in the business space.
“You need to be a bit digital, you need to change your tools, you need to upscale your hand work so that you can survive and that is why we chose the theme of the event,” she said.
Ajala reiterated the importance of investing in sustainable entrepreneurial and financial skills for women to empower them to navigate challenges in the business space.(NAN)