MTN Foundation, EDC, Mastercard Foundation Partner to Empower 20,000 Female Entrepreneurs

By Iyke Bede

Continuing its impactful Y’ellopreneur initiative, an inclusive programme beamed on female entrepreneurs in the SME sector for growth and sustainability, MTN Foundation kick-starts another process of selecting 500 participants for the career-boosting course.

The Y’ellopreneur initiative, as described by the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, remains aligned with the SDGs. “We see ourselves as a strong contributor to the social economic development of Nigeria, and the sustainability of Nigeria as a nation. At every point in time, all that we do also aligns with national pride, such that we are contributing to moving the country forward.”

As it did last year, it maintains its strategic partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, for capacity building of physical beneficiaries. However, to ensure that the impact of the initiative is felt on a broader spectrum, it will also roll out virtual training for 20,000 female entrepreneurs through Mastercard Foundation’s Transforming Nigerian Youth (TNY) initiative.

“What we are hoping is that we will have between eight to 10 million young Nigerians that will have access within five years. EDC is working with the foundations to achieve those global goals,” Program Director, Mastercard Foundation, Nneka Okekearu, explained.

She added: “Everything that the MTN Foundation is doing is addressing five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For the SDGs to be met in most economies in Africa to achieve their goals, the private sector has to come in. There is nothing any organisation can do on their own, but together we can do so much more. MTN is an enabler of possibilities, EDC is an enabler of opportunities, and the Mastercard Foundation is an enabler of the future.”

During a fireside chat centred on female entrepreneurs’ contribution to the economy and the need for proper representation, Founder, Exponential Hub and EDC Consultant, Fayo Williams disclosed that each participant will be paired with a consultant that will help shape their mindset, introduce them to the right business model, provide channels for funding, as well as introducing them to new markets spaces and partnerships for growth.

“The kind of training we’ve gotten, the support, these accelerators that EDC has helped to put together, we have been able to participate in global projects,” William said, referencing her time as a trainee under an EDC program.

“I think that EDC will continue to be that knowledge partner, and we can continue to bring onboard Business Development Service (BDS) providers from all walks of life, all over the country, and we can handhold the women and help them overcome some of those gender biases and challenges,” she concluded.