Foundation Champions Women’s Economic Empowerment

Funmi Ogundare 

The Goke Dele Foundation (GDF), recently held a one-day financial literacy workshop for small-scale businesswomen in Lagos, in an effort aimed at advancing their economic capacity and scaling up their business enterprise.

The effort was also to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD) which aligns with the foundation’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and addressing the gender financial inclusion gap prevalent in emerging African economies.

The Programme Manager of the foundation, Bethel Esamah, recalled that recent data from the fifth annual Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (2021) reveals Sub-Saharan Africa as the global leader in women’s entrepreneurial activity, boasting a participation rate of 26 per cent 

Despite this encouraging statistic, she explained that women in these regions often face challenges stemming from lower levels of education and regulatory barriers that impede their access to financial services. “Consequently, enhancing financial literacy among female entrepreneurs becomes imperative to unlock their full potential and contribute to national economic development,” she stated.

To address these challenges, she noted that the foundation collaborated with finance sector experts to deliver a comprehensive workshop focusing on market expansion strategies, business financing, and proficient bookkeeping practices. 

Esamah emphasized on the workshop’s theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion through Financial Literacy’ ,highlighting the pivotal role of financial literacy in enabling female business owners to navigate their finances effectively and propel their enterprises towards growth and scalability.

The workshop, she added, also served as a dynamic platform for participants to acquire practical skills and insights essential for managing and expanding their businesses.