Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI) has empowered 50 women in Kano with business and financial literacy skills as part of efforts to strengthen resilience, improve food security and enhance women’s participation in agribusiness.
The two-day training, held under Phase II of the Women Against Violence Empowered through Sustainability (WAVES) Project, was supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria through its Civil Society Organisations Fund (FEF-OSC).
Speaking at the event, Project Lead of WAVES, Mr. Nathan Bako, said the training was aimed at equipping vulnerable women with practical knowledge to establish, manage and grow sustainable agri-food businesses.
“The aim is to economically empower women so they can live lives free from any form of violence and abuse,” Bako stated.
He explained that the third core component of the WAVES project builds on gender-based violence prevention and climate-smart agriculture, both of which have helped women confront abuse while contributing to food security through sustainable practices.
“This business and financial literacy training focuses on helping women translate their skills into profitable ventures, manage businesses effectively, attract customers, and access finance,” he added.
Participants, drawn from eight local government areas of Kano, included survivors of gender-based violence, women in agribusiness and women with disabilities. They were trained on record keeping, value addition, cooperative formation, market access, business planning, pitching and networking.
Chief Executive Officer of AgrofixNG, Mr. Eric Andrew, who facilitated a session on identifying business opportunities, said the programme was tailored to real-life challenges.
“These women are not just learning theories. They are practicing techniques they can apply immediately to grow their businesses. This will not only build their confidence but also improve their competitiveness in the market,” Andrew said.
One of the participants, Mrs. Salamat Musa, expressed gratitude for the knowledge gained.
“I learnt how to manage my customers, keep proper records and brand my products. These are things that will make me more competitive and help my business grow,” she said.
Phase I of the WAVES project, funded by the Canadian Embassy through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, had earlier supported 50 women beneficiaries.
The ongoing second phase, backed by the French Embassy, is designed to scale up impact by combining gender-based violence prevention, climate-smart agriculture and business development, ultimately producing women leaders who are both socially conscious and economically empowered.
