NGO trains 50 Kano women on financial literacy

Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI) has trained 50 women in Kano on business and financial literacy to strengthen their resilience, improve food security, and enhance women’s participation in agribusiness.

The two-day training was organised under Phase II of the Women Against Violence Empowered through Sustainability (WAVES) Project.

The training  was supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria through the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisations (FEF-OSC).

Mr Nathan Bako, Project Lead of WAVES, said the training was designed to equip vulnerable women with the knowledge and skills to establish, manage, and grow sustainable agri-food enterprises.

“The aim is to economically empower women so they can live lives free from any form of violence and abuse.

“This third core component WAVES project builds on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and climate-smart agriculture.

“Which have empowered women to stand against GBV while also contributing to food security through sustainable farming practices.

“This business and financial literacy training focuses on helping women translate their skills into profitable ventures, manage businesses effectively, attract customers, and access finance,” he said.

According to him, participants were drawn from eight local government areas of Kano, with priority given to survivors of gender-based violence, women in agribusiness, and women with disabilities.

He said the training covered topics such as record keeping, value addition, cooperative formation, market access, business planning, pitching, and networking.

Mr Eric Andrew, Chief Executive Officer of AgrofixNG, who facilitated a session on identifying business opportunities, said the programme was tailored to real-life situations.

“These women are not just learning theories. They are practicing techniques they can apply immediately to grow their businesses.

“This will not only build their confidence but also improve their competitiveness in the market,” Andrew said.

One of the participants, Mrs. Salamat  Musa, said the training had provided her with the knowledge she lacked to expand her business.

“I learnt how to manage my customers, keep proper records, and brand my products. These are things that will make me more competitive and help my business grow,” she said.

The Phase I of the WAVES project, funded by the Canadian Embassy through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, supported 50 women beneficiaries earlier in 2025.

The ongoing second phase, supported by the French Embassy, aims to scale impact by combining gender-based violence prevention, climate-smart agriculture, and business development to create women leaders who are both socially conscious and economically empowered.