The Rivers State Government (RSG) has commended the “Women Entrepreneurs Accelerate Africa” initiative, from Robert Gordon University Business School, Aberdeen, saying it will equip women entrepreneurs with contemporary skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), financial management, and business development.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dagogo S. A. Wokoma, who gave the commendation during a meeting with a delegation from the School, yesterday, said it as a timely and impactful programme.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau, Dede Friday, the SSG stated the commitment of he State Government to promoting women’s empowerment through strategic partnerships with educational institutions aimed at enhancing skills development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.
According to him, the training programme will enhance the capacity of women entrepreneurs, and enable them to improve their businesses, create employment opportunities, and contribute more significantly to the state’s economic development.
“It is encouraging that this training will expose women to emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, strengthen their educational development, and improve their business outcomes.
“When we educate a woman, we educate a nation”, he stated.
The SSG emphasized that the State Government recognizes the critical role of skills acquisition and capacity building in empowering women and assured that the government would continue to collaborate with reputable educational institutions and development partners to advance women’s economic inclusion and growth.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Associate Professor, Poh Yen Ng, of Robert Gordon University Business School, explained that the Women Entrepreneurs Accelerate Africa programme was developed to address the entrepreneurial skills gap affecting women across the African continent.
She noted that the initiative was conceived following extensive research conducted by a team of women researchers, which revealed significant gaps in entrepreneurial knowledge and business management skills among women entrepreneurs.
“We are here to train women and help close the skills gap so they can grow their businesses and become employers of other women. Through our research, we are giving back to society by using our expertise to empower women”, she said.
Professor Ng expressed optimism about strengthening collaboration between the Rivers State Government and Robert Gordon University, noting that the Women Entrepreneurs Accelerate Africa training programme will also be implemented in Lagos, Nairobi, and Pretoria.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of both institutions to fostering women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development through education, innovation, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Masi is the Head, Information and Public Relations, Office of the SSG.