Initiative to empower African women launched

In a bid to foster economic growth across the continent, Khalil Suleiman Halilu (KSH) Foundation in collaboration with Tomorrow Foundation, and EHA Impact Ventures, has launched a startup initiative to empower female entrepreneurs. They launched the initiative on Wednesday in Abuja during a virtual conference. DailyTrust reports that the new startup, aptly named “Her-Startup,” aims […]

In a bid to foster economic growth across the continent, Khalil Suleiman Halilu (KSH) Foundation in collaboration with Tomorrow Foundation, and EHA Impact Ventures, has launched a startup initiative to empower female entrepreneurs.

They launched the initiative on Wednesday in Abuja during a virtual conference.

DailyTrust reports that the new startup, aptly named “Her-Startup,” aims to provide critical resources, training, and support to women-led startups across various sectors.

Khalil Halilu, founder of the KSH Foundation, while stressing the significance of empowering women in entrepreneurship, noted that Her-Startup is a significant step towards alleviating the hurdles faced by women and girls in the domains of innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Women serve as the bedrock of economies. By backing their entrepreneurial endeavors, we are not only investing in their future but in that of our communities and nations as well.

“This initiative signifies our unwavering dedication to cultivating an inclusive and fair entrepreneurial environment in Africa,” Halilu emphasised.

According to Halilu, the initiative is poised to make a substantial impact on Africa’s economy, with forecasts indicating a potential contribution of $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025, as per Mckinsey’s report.

The initiative, he said is also expected to facilitate job creation, foster economic inclusion, drive innovation and competitiveness, provide social and communal benefits, and enhance economic resilience.

Madam Maggie Gu, President of Tomorrow Foundation, echoed the sentiment by stating that Her-Startup is designed to tackle the specific obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs, such as limited access to funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities prevalent in many African nations.

“We firmly believe that the success of women leads to the advancement of their communities and contributes to sustainable economic growth,” Gu remarked.

Ms Evelyn Castle, the Co-Founder of EHA Impact Ventures, renowned for its commitment to supporting social enterprises, emphasised the organisation’s key role in extending financial aid and investment prospects to the female entrepreneurs participating in the initiative.

“Access to capital represents a significant hurdle for numerous women-led startups. Through this partnership, our objective is to eliminate these barriers and establish a conducive environment that fosters innovation and growth for women entrepreneurs,” she said.