Caption: From left: Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, Retail and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc; Nkechinyere Ojiego, General Manager of Simba Group; Mrs. Patricia Ahunanya, Chief Compliance Officer, Unity Bank Plc; and Obiageli Okechukwu, Team Member, Personal and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc, at the capacity-building workshop for women entrepreneurs held recently at Unity Bank HQ in Lagos.
Unity Bank Plc has hosted a capacity-building workshop to support the bid by the Association of Nigerian Women in Business Network (ANWBN) aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to thrive in today’s digital economy.
The workshop with the theme: “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: AI and Digital Marketing Strategies,” the bank said, sought to equip women with practical knowledge on how to harness the power and take advantage of emerging technology.
The event, which stems from the growing advancement in technology and its impact on business, offered businesses from diverse sectors, attendees tools needed to leverage digital platforms for expanding market reach, building efficiency in business operations, engaging customers, and increasing brand visibility.
Renowned industry experts and speakers at the workshop led impactful sessions at the workshop, included: Dr. Opeyemi Ojesina, Chief Executive Officer of Jesshill Consulting; Nkechinyere Ojiego, General Manager, Simba Group; and Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, of Retail and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc.
Addressing newsmen after the event designed to help participants grow their businesses by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and customer-centric marketing strategies, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola said the capacity-building initiative was inspired by the need to empower women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the growing opportunities presented by the evolving digital marketing landscape.
According to her, “the growing digital landscape presents a unique opportunity for women to scale their businesses. There are over 70% of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria who desire this kind of capacity-building programme to improve their businesses, helping them learn how to transition from traditional business methods to one powered by technology, as this will become a differentiator.”
While commending the partnership with ANWBN and emphasizing the importance of digital technologies, Mrs. Ambimbola pledged Unity Bank’s commitment to supporting SMEs, adding that the Bank will often pay priority attention to female-led ventures to improve relationships and collaboration with women businesses in Nigeria.
She added: “We are proud of our partnership with ANWBN and the success of this workshop. Empowering women entrepreneurs is key to driving economic growth and ensuring sustainable development. We look forward to more initiatives that support and uplift women in business.”
A participant, Mrs. Yetunde Adeniran, a fashion designer, who shared her learning experience noted that with the insights gained, she has now found more ways of integrating digital technology into many facets of her business. She also highlighted the advantages of Unity Bank’s Yanga Account, which she noted as a crucial tool for small business owners, providing financial support tailored to their specific needs.
In 2022, Unity Bank launched Yanga Account to facilitate financial inclusion for Women. The success of the workshop underscores Unity Bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs in Nigeria as the Bank seeks to empower women in business by providing access to valuable resources, financial tools, and educational opportunities that will help them thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
