Oct 8, 2007 - West Africa Business Women Seminar Organised By NACCIMA Business Women Group
Let me start by welcoming to Lagos State, Nigeria, our sisters from the neighbouring West African sub region including Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Republic of Benin, and Sierra Leone who I am informed are participating in this Seminar. I also congratulate the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Business Women Group under the able leadership of Iyalode Alaba Lawson, MFR, JP, for the successful commencement of this seminar with the theme “Development of West Africa Women Entrepreneurship.”
Over the past few decades, the issue of women development and empowerment has continued to engage global attention. The increasing momentum which this issue has generated is in realisation of the fact that the opportunities and the right environment, women can make significant contribution to national development if given the opportunity and the right environment is created.
It is therefore a welcome development that the United Nations has identified promotion of gender equality and women empowerment as one of the eight goals to be achieved globally by year 2015 under the Millennium Development Goals.
In the present changing world, capacity building is one of the most effective strategies for empowerment and self actualisation. It is therefore my hope that at the end of this three day seminar, knowledge and skills especially in the areas of management and marketing would have been sufficiently imparted to all participants for us to maintain a leading edge in our different areas of competence.
Before I end this address, I wish to use this opportunity to call for greater cooperation and partnership among women entrepreneurs in the sub region. The phenomenon of globalization has made it important for people of different countries and regions to network for the purpose of exchanging ideas and information on opportunities that are mutually beneficial and will also strengthen trade ties among our countries.
Finally, I urge you to use the opportunity of this visit to relax and enjoy the rich culture and traditional hospitality of the good people of Lagos State.
Once again, I congratulate NACCIMA Women Business Group and wish all participants fruitful deliberations.
I thank you for your kind attention. God bless you all.
Her Excellency
Mrs. Abimbola Fashola
First Lady of Lagos State