The need to continue to coach women and rightly position them to be major drivers and influencers of the economy, came to the front burner last week, as Diamond Bank trained and helped sharpened the entrepreneurial skills of businesswomen and those aspiring to own one. Diamond Woman, a woman friendly proposition from the Bank, in its second edition of the Diamond Woman Enterprise Series that held in Benin City, exposed the attendees to simple business management tactics, business idea generation and development and several other business skills that will help them grow their businesses and profitability. The Diamond Woman Enterprise Series is a women only seminar series focused on promoting capacity building opportunities, financial literacy, access to industry specific training and business advisory services to women.
Welcoming participants to the event, Ogbonnia Okereke, Regional Manager, Benin Region, Diamond Bank Plc, noted that the bank was motivated to train women because of the enormous entrepreneurial potential in them. Pointing the numerous achievements of women like the IMF President, Christine Largade and Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Okereke said that women are emerging key influencers of the economy and therefore needs to be fortified with the necessary entrepreneurial skills. “Recent studies show that women are opening their own businesses at a faster rate than men. This means that they will be the major employers of labour in the near future.
This is why Diamond Bank has decided to provide them with the requisite financial skills and networking opportunities that will position them to be better leaders of the economy.” In her address, Mrs. Adaeze Ume, Segment Head, Micro Enterprises, Diamond Bank PLC, disclosed that the bank realizes the unique needs of women and has developed specific products that cater exclusively for them. Bank staff have also been trained to recognize these differences.
According to her, “From our many years of experience in dealing with women, we have come to understand the distinct habits of this key stakeholder segment. Women bank on trust. When they want to take up a new service, they ask a lot of questions, then request for some time to mull over the decision and talk to their family and friends. They like to work with things they are familiar with or things recommended to them by people they trust. While working within this closed network may provide a safety net, it also limits the opportunities open to women to grow their businesses. “That is why we have created the Diamond Woman online community which is a vibrant platform for women from all walks of life to interact with one another and build a wider community of credible associates who they can trust, get advise from and also do business with. “Another major weakness we have discovered among women business owners is weak financial literacy and business management skills, which these enterprise seminars are designed to address. We hope that the beneficiaries will put what they learn here to good use to improve their businesses and community at large.” Speaking on the theme: “What Do You See?” and “The Strategies for Winning,” the keynote speaker, Eseoghene Odiete, Creative Director, Hesey Designs, a fashion outfit that specializes in ankara bags, said that she started her business with her NYSC savings of ten thousand naira and today the enterprise is worth over ten million naira.
According to her, Hesey Designs was guided by three defining strategies of: Think Big, Start Small and Scale Fast. She charged the participants to: “have a clear picture of where you want to go, inspire yourself with successful models, sacrifice short term expectations for your big picture, unlock the power of the social media, have a well written business plan, surround yourself with positive friends and take advantage of funds and grant competitions.” Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu, former Commissioner of Education, Delta State, who was present at the event, commended Diamond Bank for its pioneering role in entrepreneurial training in Nigeria. Lamenting the falling standards of formal education, she said that top quality training such as the Diamond Woman Enterprise Series will empower women to take better control of their lives to build better homes and nurture better adjusted children for the general benefit of society.
