By Lengnan Tobias
The President of the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs Ngozi Aneke, has urged women to acquire knowledge and skills needed to remain productive, adaptable and confident in society.
Aneke gave the advice on Saturday in Abuja at a NAFOWA Entrepreneurship and Capacity-Building Training for members.
She said the programme focused on areas that were increasingly becoming important to growth and development of women, because they carried different responsibilities and face varying demands.
She noted that many women already possessed valuable skills, talents and ideas, adding that the challenge often laid in transforming abilities into profitable and sustainable opportunities.
“A woman may be skilled in baking, catering, tailoring, hairdressing or production of liquid soap, yet lack knowledge of how to price her products, package them attractively, promote them online and keep proper financial records.
“Another woman may have excellent business idea such as providing affordable meals on demand, childcare services or agricultural products, but may not know how to develop business plan, obtain start-up capital, attract customers or manage business effectively.
“Similarly, a woman who makes beautiful beads, crafts or fashion accessories may sell only to friends and neighbours because she has not learned how to use social media and online platforms to reach wider market,” she explained.
Aneke noted that demands of modern society required women to be willing to learn, adapt and find productive ways of responding to changing circumstances.
She said it is not enough for women to be beneficiaries of opportunities, saying that they should also be equipped to recognise opportunities, create value and participate meaningfully in economic activities around them.
According to her, the training is organised in line with my vision and mission for NAFOWA.
“This vision seeks to strengthen the association as a compassionate, inclusive and impactful platform that enhances the welfare of members, empowers women, supports families and promotes sustainable personal and economic development.
“It also aligns with and complements strategic guidance and support of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, in advancing welfare, empowerment and inclusion of women.
“Through collaboration, service and purposeful programmes, we seek to ensure that NAFOWA remains responsive to needs of its members and contributes meaningfully to national development.
“Our intention is to provide you with practical knowledge that can help them move from simply having skill or idea to understanding how that skill or idea can be developed into something productive.
“We want you to understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, appreciate importance of planning and sound business management and develop confidence to pursue opportunities that can improve their livelihoods.”
The NAFOWA president emphasised that the strength of any community was influenced by the capacity of the people within it.
She noted that when women acquired the right knowledge and opportunities to develop their abilities, society benefited from their creativity, enterprise and experience.
Aneke therefore urged participants to make the opportunity count, listen carefully, ask questions and relate what they were learning to their own circumstances.
“If you already have business, start to think about what you can do differently to improve it from today.
“If you have skill, think about how you can develop it further. If you have idea that you have been putting off, perhaps this training will provide the knowledge and confidence needed to take the next step,” she said.(NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker