Group Empowers MSME Operators

Kehinde Lawal
The Nagode Foundation in collaboration with the Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD) has empowered its graduating students with financial support for their micro businesses.

The graduating students were fashion designers, caters, hair stylists, among others.
Speaking at a ceremony in Lagos, the Managing Director, Nagode Industries, Sandeep Kapoor, said the financial support to the students would support their respective businesses and impact positively on the country.

He also stated that it create employment opportunities.
In her remarks, the Founder of FSD, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde, said the Foundation would continue to create more entrepreneurs.
She also stated that the goal of the Academy has always been to empower people with skills in order to set up their own businesses or to work in industries.
“The training programme organised by the Academy will help the trainees get knowledge on how to start their own businesses. The success stories are verifiable, and they are amazing,” she added.

Ogunrinde further pointed out that the partnership with the Foundation was aimed at removing people from the streets.
Ogunrinde added: “People always come to us because of the quality of our work, we are not expensive, and the skills we offer are measurable. We keep professional vocational training, leaving the street and coming to us, your life has to change.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, one of the beneficiaries and graduate of the Foundation, Mrs. Abidoye Temitope, who cited the integrity and discipline of the institute as one of the things the students benefit.

“I want to appreciate Nagode and FSD and all their staff, the factors that helped me here were discipline and integrity.
“There was a time I got fed up and told my instructor that I can’t cope, I wanted to leave, she encouraged me and today I can draft out a lot of styles that look difficult then and make the design and I even make corrections to others,” Temitope added.

Women in Finance Promotes Financial Inclusion
Women in Finance ng (WIFng), an advocacy, development and networking platform for women in the Nigerian financial sector and in finance roles, have concluded plan to hold its second quarter (Q2 Breakfast Meeting and Induction Ceremony in Lagos on June 27, 2018.
The group said in a statement that the breakfast and induction ceremony would host distinguished panelists and speakers, including business leaders, finance professionals and tech experts to discuss the theme “The Future of Financial Inclusion: Key Considerations for Women in Finance.”

The Managing Director of Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc and a member of the WIFng Executive Council, Mrs. Bunmi Lawson will deliver the keynote speech.
The panelists include: Managing Director, STL Trustees Limited, Mrs Funmilayo Ekundayo; Managing Partner, Sefton Fross, Olayemi Anyanechi; Chair, Women in Technology, Chinwe Sophia Onuorah; Head of Banks and Broker Dealers, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Yemisi Tayo Aboaba, and Group Chief Information Officer, United Capital Plc, Joseph Onyema.

“There will also be an induction ceremony for new WIFng members. This further solidifies the mission statement of the group; to advance the cause of women, pursue financial inclusion and financial literacy for women, and promote gender parity in the country,” it said.

Wifng leaders include: Group CEO, United Capital Plc, Mrs Toyin Sanni as Chairman, Head, International Corporates, Global Banking at Standard Chartered Bank, Yemisi Tayo-Aboaba; Ekundayo, Lawson, Managing Director, Coronation MB Trustees Limited, Oghogho Osula, and Managing Director, United Capital Trustees Limited, Tokunbo Ajayi, and Chairman of Africa Prudential Plc, Chief Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, who is on the Advisory Board.