Ezekwesili, Others to Address Women’s Critical Role in The African Economy

 

Ezekwesili, Others to Address Women’s Critical Role in The African Economy

 

 

In seven days, Lagos will witness the first conference of its kind on African soil that will assemble some of the most successful female entrepreneurs and business leaders from diverse African countries and beyond, under one roof on a fundamental agenda.

The event is Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) holding at Lagos Oriental Hotel on 8^th and 9^th September 2015. AWIEF will also feature two Pre-Conference business capacity building workshops on 7^th September.                                                                                                                     AWIEF will assemble female enterprise and industry leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Togo, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and many other African countries, with a great number coming from the African Diaspora.

The event which is easily the biggest gathering of Africa’s top female entrepreneurs and industrial giants, has the primary aim of generating innovative ideas and systemic changes in the African business environment, in order to reduce the disadvantages faced by women within the African business turf.

AWIEF 2015 is produced and hosted by ICO Conferences & Events Ltd, in partnership with International Women’s Society (IWS) Lagos, LEAP Africa and Business School Netherlands (BSN).

According to Irene Ochem, AWIEF Founder and Managing Director of ICO Conferences & Events Ltd, “it is now widely accepted that investing in women has an extensive impact on the building of strong and thriving societies. AWIEF will address women’s critical role in economic leadership and development and discuss opportunities to unleash their full potential to unlock Africa’s sustainable growth”.

Going further, Ochem explains that AWIEF will among other things highlight how educational tools, financial resources and micro and small enterprise opportunities can be expanded to support women’s inclusion and full economic participation and entrepreneurship.                                                                                                                         Among the more than 30 astute female game changers who will be speaking at the event are:

OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI

Former VP Africa Region, World Bank & Senior Economic Advisor Open Society Foundation

ADJARATOU FATOU NDIAYE

UNWomen Deputy Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS

ONARI DUKE

Director, Empretec Nigeria Foundation (UNCTAD)

NDIDI NWUNELI

Founder/Director, LEAP Africa & Partner, Sahel Capital, Nigeria.                                                          LUCIA QUACHEY

President, Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE) & Secretary General, African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs

DIVINE NDHLUKULA

Founder/Managing Director, SECURICO Security Services, Zimbabwe

AUDREY JOE-EZIGBO

Co-Founder/Executive Director, Falcon Corporation Ltd & FalconGaz Ltd

SABETHA MWANBENJA

Managing Director, Covenant Bank for Women Tanzania Ltd, Tanzania

ONYINYE IKENNA-EMEKA

General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN Business Nigeria

WINIFRED AKPANI

Managing Director/CEO

NorthWest Petroleum & Gas Co. Ltd

SHIMITE BELLO

President, Quintessential Business Women Association

CANDIDE BAMEZON-LEGUEDE

President, ECOWAS Federation of Business Women and Entrepreneurs (ECOWAS-FEBWE)

DOLAPO KUKOYI

Partner, Detail Commercial Solicitors

NJIDEKA HARRY

Founder/President, Youth for Technology Foundation

FATOUMATA BA

Managing Director, Jumia Nigeria & Founder, Jumia Ivory Coast

NIKE OGUNLANA

Managing Partner, Dalmeida Ogunlana & Co.

ANITA ERSKINE

TV Presenter/Radio Host & Founder Brand Woman Africa, Ghana

ZAINAB SALEH

President, International Women’s Society (IWS) Lagos

OLUREMI ARIBISALA

Chairperson, African Women Leaders Think Tank (AWLTT)

NATHALIE CHINJE

Founder/MD, Upbeat Marketing (Pty) Ltd, South Africa

Speaking at her Lagos office, Mrs Irene Ochem noted that “the time has come for a paradigm shift; Africa must not continue suffering as a continent by disadvantaging women who constitute 50% of its core producers and entrepreneurs. The time has come for women to take the gauntlet and change the situation for better”

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