The Women Against Violence Empowered through Sustainability (WAVES) has trained 50 women entrepreneurs in Kano on financial literacy to boost their economic empowerment and strengthen their business capacity.
The two-day training, supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria and implemented by Bridge Connect Africa Initiative, aimed at equipping women with skills to run sustainable agri-food businesses, improve profitability, and enhance financial management.
WAVES Project Lead, Nathan Bako, said the programme was designed to help participants identify business opportunities, access markets and finance, and improve value addition. He noted that the training also covered cooperative formation, business planning, pitching, networking, and sector-specific guidance.
“The goal is to enable women to establish, manage, and grow sustainable agri-food businesses. Participants are learning how to spot market gaps, attract and retain customers, track income and expenses, improve product quality, expand sales channels, and access funding sources,” Bako explained.
According to him, experienced women entrepreneurs were also invited to share their success stories to inspire and guide participants.
One of the participants, Salamat Musa, commended the organisers, describing the training as a life-changing opportunity.
She said the sessions had exposed her to new techniques that would help her business grow and remain competitive.
Facilitators at the workshop stressed the practical application of the knowledge gained, ensuring that women could immediately apply the skills in their businesses.
The WAVES project combines entrepreneurship training with advocacy against gender-based violence, climate-smart agriculture, and business development. It focuses on strengthening women’s roles in the food security chain while raising a new generation of socially conscious and economically empowered leaders.
