A country manager of International Finance Corporation, a private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has advocated the need for banking institutions and their subsidiaries to invest more by stepping up their lending facilities to Nigerian women, who are seen as catalysts of development.
Eme Essien Lore, the Country Manager of IFC, Nigeria’s office, speaking on Women, Innovation and Funding for Business during the concluded Social Media Week in Lagos said “It is even more profitable when you invest more in women. As mothers, women have great potentials to generate more incomes for their families. Most of them are engaged in micro-finance businesses and of course these businesses are the fastest growing.
“Unfortunately, some women do not believe in collaboration. Again, some women are engaged in menial jobs. Some of our women have the capacity to work longer than other men. They have to exploit their potentials, show resilience and exercise patience in trying to generate incomes to better their lots.”
Dr. Akintoye Akindele, executive chairman, Platform Capital identified the harsh conditions facing women in wanting to collect lending facilities, small family unit and poor network among women as problems facing them.
Thelma Ekiyor, Managing Director, SME, NG encouraged more women to imbibe entrepreneurial spirit and work harder in order to improve their living standards and that of their families.
Ekiyor told women “Forget about women entiltlement. In short, do not wiat for money for it kills. Women Affirmative Action does not work. Glass ceiling does not prevent you from moving higher in life. The roadblocks are there, but you have to work to overcome them.
“Commercial bank should be your last resort. Research because there are numerous investments you can go into to strengthen the ecosystem. Remember: Investment is a chemistry,” she noted.
