EcobankEllevate in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Ananse Africa has organized an event to empower and train fashion entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
In her welcome address at the hybrid event which took place at the Ecobank Pan Africa Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, Head, Consumer Banking Ecobank Nigeria, Korede Demola-Adeniyi said the bank’s support will empower and expose local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the global market.
“This is an innovative impact-driven programme, designed to equip women fashion entrepreneurs with valuable business skills to be better empowered, and to equip them with more skills in their chosen field in fashion.”
“For us as a bank, we are delighted to partner with Mastercard Foundation and Ananse to organise this training programme. It aligns with our focus of enabling SMEs to grow their businesses to compete in the global market.”
“Remember, we are also using adire as a key driver in the fashion industry. Last year we took adire technology to the global arena; we partnered with Ogun State First Lady through Ajose Foundation Adire Market Week which attracted over 1,000 local and foreign exhibitors; we organised a successful Lagos Adire Experience and also sponsored Africa Fashion Week London 2022 with an Adire pavilion,” she stated.
Demola-Adeniyi introduced to the participants the bank’s various products, services, and digital offerings such as “Ecobank Mobile app, Ecobank Online, EcobankOmnilite, EcobankPay, Ellevate, a relationship package to cater for female-owned and female-run businesses and over 60,000 Ecobank Xpress Point agency banking locations spread across the country, among others.
Speaking during the event, the founder/CEO, Ananse Africa, Sam Mensah, said the training, which centres on e-commerce and digital marketing, is targeted at women and youths in fashion and creative MSMEs who want to start trading online or improve their current online presence.
Mensah added that participants would receive continued practical support to set up or improve their online stores for three months after the session.
“We intend to take the training to four other African countries including Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, and Ivory Coast in the next few months. There are lots of economic opportunities for youth and women across Africa in the fashion business
He listed the benefits to include, digital PoS for improved inventory management, local and international payments, marketing exposure, global logistics for increased sales, and hassle-free global e-commerce, among others.