The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), has unveiled a novel business competition intended to empower women in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trades.
The competition, dubbed “Women in TVET Business Competition” will provide financial support to women graduate trainees. Also, it will offer similar support to entrepreneurs of start-up and established businesses.
Furthermore, the initiative seeks to help incubate and scale up their enterprises in key male-dominated service. With this, participants will have the opportunity to grow their business acumen and enterprises in an enabling environment.
To this end, they will be exposed to major private sector and industry players in TVET sectors, with winners receiving capital for the businesses.
NEIP is in collaboration with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) to ensure the success of the programme. It has opened application for entrepreneurs in the TVET sector to apply for a training and funding.
Women empowerment in male-dominated trade
Project Director for NEIP, Franklin Owusu-Karikari, revealed that the pandemic which caused several job losses has informed his outfit to initiate the program. He further advocated for the support of women particularly under the TVET training.
“In this period of Covid-19 when many people have lost their jobs and livelihood, I urge women to take advantage of this initiative to take a step to bring their ideas to life. It is high time we supported women entrepreneurs in male-dominated TVET trades.”
Mr Franklin Owusu-Karikari
On his part, the Director for INVEST, Appiah Boakye, highlighted the significance of the collaboration between WUSC and NEIP on this project.
According to him, “the INVEST project seeks to explore sustainable opportunities for young women to curate TVET-businesses and become competitive in the marketplace”.
“NEIP offers aspiring and current entrepreneurs’ access to a network of accredited service providers and resources set within an initiative solely focused on the advancement of youth through entrepreneurship.”
Mr Appiah Boakye
Economic empowerment of women, crucial to nation building
Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President, in May this year, called for women’s economic empowerment towards nation building.
According to her, studies show women reinvest up to 90 per cent of their incomes back into their families and communities.
Additionally, she revealed that investing in women will also create long-term social and economic benefits for the women.
Mrs Bawumia noted that the effect of women’s economic inclusion contributes to sustainable development gains in the country.
She also revealed that over 3,400 women across the Greater Accra, Ashanti and the five Northern Regions have been trained in soap, detergent and yoghurt making.
In partnership with the Ministry of Business Development and NEIP, she revealed that these women have received loans of varying amounts to invest into their businesses.
In addition, about 1,200 women were trained in partnership with the Ghana EXIM Bank in quality shea nut picking, shea kernel production and preservation through Shea Empowerment Initiative.
Moreover, she indicated that some 200 women have also benefited from financial management, bookkeeping and business opportunity identification.
This, she explained was to help in their training to improve their businesses.
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