Chinneylove Empowers Women-led Startups With N1.5m

Oluchi Chibuzor

The C.E.O. of Chinneylove Eze Productions Limited, Chinneylove Eze, has empowered three women-led startups with the sum of N1.5 million to boost their business capacity to become more productive.

This, is coming as the A-listed nollywood movie producer is motivated to through the programme influence more women to be more in their respective fields.

Speaking at the one day event in Lagos, recently, attended by over 60 women, the movie producer charged the women to aim high by changing their mindset.

She acknowledged that women can be better beyond the kitchen and giving birth, “so having the second edition today is exciting for me.”

“As we gather here today let us start by changing our mindset and have a clear vision and objectives of what we want in 2024. Is surprising that most people don’t have a goal and so, one key area this year’s edition is looking to change by challenging participants through various speakers.”

Challenging the beneficiaries, she said, “Money is just one thing because I can still give you that money you will still not use it. But for me the main thing is what you go home with because there are some people that participated last year and have become better.

“There was a lady here today that said i was here last year and it really helped me the whole year, that to me is the greatest because i can give you money to start up a business and you don’t use it or the business folds up in two months.”

She adds that, “So, for me the joy is not realĺy about the money but the fact that you come to a room get knowledge from me and other women that are doing it in their fields and you go home to ultilise it to become better throughout the year.

“I have seen businesses that i have helped grow without financial support, so for me the money is just one side and i hope even when you get the money you can ultilise it. But what you take home is even more important to me.

“The motivation is the narrative behind the women and then a lot of women just feel like I want to marry a rich man; you can be the rich woman. But I hope when I impact you, you can go into the world and become good and some of them come back with testimonies to say you helped me.

“Last year I bought brand new laptops for businesses that need them; so last year was more about what you do and how the laptop will help your business become better. So if you are a photographer and you don’t have a laptop to edit or whatever you do; they pitched and I picked a good amount of people and I gave them a laptop.

“For this year, one person is getting One million Naira to start up a business; so you have an idea but you do not have finance for it and you have a beautiful idea to become more. We pick one person and give One million naira and then we have two people that already are running businesses but they need some funds to make their business become better. For instance, you have a business logistics problem and you need a bike , so you must need something to get your business to get better. We are picking two people for N250, 000 each.”

The beneficiaries include, Jenevier Crusader (Springs oil ) One million naira, Imabekhai Ochuwa Glory (Bakes Exquisite) and Sharon Eimiana ( The fashion Room) both received N250,000 each.

Speaking at the event as a sponsor, the CEO Optiva Capital Partners, Dr. Jane Kimemia, said the theme of the conference ‘Be More’ is about encouraging women to be everything they ought to be and maximising their potential.

The second edition of the ‘Be More’, hosted by Chinneylove, according to Dr. Kimemia affords women the opportunity to interact, network and learn from each other’s experiences.

According to her, “So, is not about women alone to find the reason why we are here and are intentional to find the area of service that we are supposed to excel in ; i think for me that is what been more is all about and finding your authentic power by knowing who you are and the reason why you are here on earth.”

She noted the perception of viewing women as a weaker vessel should change because women are the pillar of society.

“So, whether the men have been very successful is because they have been nurtured by their mothers or wives. Women are behind every success story of great men who accomplished great things, but at the same time the women have been able to accomplish so much beyond the marketplace.

“Just looking at the Nigerian landscape , the CEOs of banks , captains of industry, real estate, business, Oil and Gas, etc, are women doing great things for society.”