US Launches Academy For Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs

The United States Consulate General in Lagos has launched the Nigerian Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a State Department-led initiative that supports women entrepreneurs around the world.
During a week-long programme, which ends today, a diverse group of 100 women selected from a pool of over 6,000 applicants, received lessons on business management, network with like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors, and learnt the practical skills required to create successful and sustainable businesses.  Declaring the workshop open, U.S. Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, explained that the goal of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs was to teach women around the world to become successful entrepreneurs.
She noted that women’s empowerment will be key to Nigeria’s long-term economic development.
“One of the U.S. Government’s goals is to promote entrepreneurship worldwide. Through the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, we are doing just that by giving these ambitious businesswomen the skills they need to take their ventures to the next level,” she said.
Pierangelo described the role of women as crucial for the progress of national economies.
Participants received access to DreamBuilder, a blended business-training course developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company, Freeport-McMoRan.
Nigeria is among 26 pilot countries worldwide that were selected to participate in the AWE programme.
The other African countries participating in the inaugural AWE cohort are Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.