Industry
BoI partners AfDB, IDB on funding for women-owned businesses
The Bank of Industry says it is currently collaborating with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the launch and implementation of the 300 million dollars Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA).
The Managing Director, BoI, Mr Olukayode Pitan made this known at the Bank’s webinar themed: ‘’Recognising Women’s Leadership In Enhancing Nigeria’s COVID-19 Recovery” to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Pitan said the AFAWA fund was expected to unlock three billion dollars in private sector financing to empower female entrepreneurs through capacity building development.
He added that the fund would grant women access to finance as well as spearhead legal policy and regulatory reforms to support enterprises led by women.
Pitan said that the bank was also partnering with Islamic Development Bank to implement the Business Resilience Assistance for Value-adding Enterprise (BRAVE) Women Nigeria project.
“BRAVE Nigeria is part of a larger 32.2 million dollars five-year initiative coordinated by the Islamic Development Bank.
“The project combines training and grant-matching to support the growth and resilience of women-led enterprises in spite of their challenging operating environment.
“Furthermore, BOI invested 10 million dollars in the Alitheia Fund, also toward supporting Nigerian women-led businesses, some of which will be export-oriented.
“In addition, the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) Fund, a partnership between the BOI and Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has allocated 20 million dollars as an intervention fund to women businesses in the oil and gas sector.
“These are just a few of the initiatives the Bank of Industry is engaged in to promote female gender equality, especially as it relates to business financing and support.
“We believe that our support to female entrepreneurship will not only revitalise their businesses during this pandemic, but will enable them to thrive beyond it and close the inequality gap.
“BOI remains committed in our drive to support women; and I encourage other organisations to do the same, because when women win, the society wins,” he said.
The BoI managing director said that the International Women Day (IWD) theme: ‘‘Choose To Challenge”, highlighted the importance of challenging biases, stereotypes and misconceptions in the interest of creating a more inclusive and gender-equal world.
He said that establishment of the bank’s gender business desk, which catered specifically for female entrepreneurs had successfully disbursed close to N100 billion to over 1,500 women-led enterprises.
“In addition to financial support, the gender desk also provides much needed business advisory and capacity building services, leveraging our strategic partnerships with more than 300 Business Development Service Providers (BDSP) nationwide.
“It is believed that if Nigeria enhances gender equality in the labour market, politics, legal system, education and healthcare, it could add 1.25 per cent points to the economy.
“Despite what we know now, the representation of women at decision making level is still minimal as today.
“There are only 25 countries that have elected women as Heads of State or Government – just about 11 per cent of all countries and territories in the world.
“Beyond participation in the political space, representation of women in the corporate sphere is very much skewed as only eight per cent of Fortune 500 companies are led by females.
“Yes, it is safe to say that we have made progress over the years, yet, it is far from acceptable and insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goal Five to ‘Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls.’
“The female gender has also been marginalised when it comes to access to finance.
“The gender financing gap in Africa is believed to be 42 billion dollars between men and women.
“This is a worrisome statistic and at the Bank of Industry, we continue to take deliberate steps to address issues around gender equality in entrepreneurship,” he said
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has been honoured with the distinguished award for Engineering and Industrial Innovation at the 2nd edition of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS).
The award which was presented by the Vice President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima, GCON on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, underscores Mr. Halilu’s stellar performance and transformational leadership during his first year in office.
The presentation ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Saturday 6th July 2024 aimed at celebrating outstanding public servants who have made significant contributions to the nation’s development.
Mr Halilu’s recognition is a testament to his unwavering commitment to making NASENI a hub of technology transfer and innovation not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
Under Halilu’s leadership, NASENI has witnessed transformational reforms aimed at fostering technological advancements and industrial growth. His visionary approach has driven the agency to new heights, with key initiatives that have positioned NASENI as a leading hub for innovation and proving the manufacturing capabilities of Nigeria.
These efforts have included the development of cutting-edge technologies, the promotion of sustainable industrial practices, and the fostering of strategic partnerships with leading industry players to enhance Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global market.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Halilu expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and the entire NASENI team.
He emphasized that this recognition is a collective achievement, reflecting the hard work and dedication of everyone at NASENI.
“This award is a recognition of our commitment to advancing engineering and industrial innovation in Nigeria. It is a testament to the efforts of the entire NASENI team, and I am deeply honored to accept it on their behalf,” Mr. Halilu stated.
The award not only highlights Mr. Halilu’s contributions over the past year but also sets a benchmark for future endeavours aimed at driving technological and industrial innovation in Nigeria and beyond.
NASENI remains committed to its mission of fostering sustainable development through technological innovation, and this award is a strong validation of its ongoing efforts to make a lasting impact on the nation’s industrial landscape.
Also, other eminent Nigerians, who received the award were: General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, former and serving Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers, and Head of Government MDAs among others.
In the bustling kitchens of homes across Nigeria, something magical is happening. Amidst the sizzle of pans and the aroma of spices, families are coming together in a celebration of love, nourishment, and togetherness. Golden Terra Soya Oil’s “Pour Pure Love” campaign has captured the hearts and taste buds of consumers nationwide.
For AlhassanSule, an engineer, watching the ad repeatedly reminds him of a time long gone, yet still etched vividly in his memory. As he watches the scene unfold on screen—a mother stirring a pot of soup, the aroma filling the kitchen—he can’t help but be transported back to his own childhood home.
Suddenly, he was a young boy again, sitting at the kitchen table, watching his mother cook with the same love and care. He could almost taste the flavors of her cooking, and feel the warmth of her embrace as she served him a bowl of steaming hot soup.
But it wasn’t just the sights and smells that brought tears to his eyes; it was the flood of emotions that accompanied them—the love, the warmth, the sense of belonging. In that moment, he realised how much those simple meals had meant to him, how they had formed the foundation of his most treasured memories.
As the ad came to an end, he finds himself smiling through his tears, grateful for the reminder of the love that had always been there, even in the simplest of moments. And as he reached for a bottle of Golden Terra Oil at the supermarket, he did so not just as a consumer, but as someone who had been touched by the power of nostalgia and the enduring bond of family.
The “Pour Pure Love” campaign emphasises the importance of creating an emotional connection with consumers by offering meaningful connections in addition to high-quality products.
Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, Probal Bhattacharya stated that the outpouring of positive reviews and engagement from consumers for the “Pour Pure Love” campaign underscores the enduring connection between Golden Terra Soya Oil and the moments of motherly love and care shared around the dining table.
“Our goal is to be more than just a product on the shelf – we strive to be a trusted companion, a source of inspiration, and a symbol of warmth and love. With the Pour Pure Love campaign, Golden Terra Oil pays tribute to all the world’s Moms for the warm tasty meals that fill our hearts and our souls with all the love that they pour selflessly into our lives,” he stated.
Golden Terra Soya Oil is a premium, all-purpose cooking oil made from 100 percent pure soya beans, sourced and manufactured in Nigeria. It contains 5x more PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) proven to deliver numerous health benefits, like reducing cholesterol, maintaining a healthier heart, enhancing nerve function, boosting brain health, and supporting muscle strength. Discerning consumers trust Golden Terra Soya Oil to bring an unmatched balance of Taste & Health to every dish cooked with it. Available in various sizes, including 1000ml pouch, 700ml and 1.4L bottles, and 2.5L, 4.5L, and 25L kegs.
Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group is an international investment and holding company with diversified interests and investments across Africa, The Middle East, Asia, and other emerging markets. TGI’s investments focus on driving inclusivity and value addition using locally sourced raw materials, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and a highly skilled workforce to produce world-class products that are consumed both locally and exported to global markets. Across markets, TGI Group owns over a hundred leading brands in Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Agricultural Inputs, Industrial Chemicals, Homecare Products and Pharmaceuticals.
In the bustling kitchens of homes across Nigeria, something magical is happening. Amidst the sizzle of pans and the aroma of spices, families are coming together in a celebration of love, nourishment, and togetherness. Golden Terra Soya Oil’s “Pour Pure Love” campaign has captured the hearts and taste buds of consumers nationwide.
For AlhassanSule, an engineer, watching the ad repeatedly reminds him of a time long gone, yet still etched vividly in his memory. As he watches the scene unfold on screen—a mother stirring a pot of soup, the aroma filling the kitchen—he can’t help but be transported back to his own childhood home.
Suddenly, he was a young boy again, sitting at the kitchen table, watching his mother cook with the same love and care. He could almost taste the flavors of her cooking, and feel the warmth of her embrace as she served him a bowl of steaming hot soup.
But it wasn’t just the sights and smells that brought tears to his eyes; it was the flood of emotions that accompanied them—the love, the warmth, the sense of belonging. In that moment, he realised how much those simple meals had meant to him, how they had formed the foundation of his most treasured memories.
As the ad came to an end, he finds himself smiling through his tears, grateful for the reminder of the love that had always been there, even in the simplest of moments. And as he reached for a bottle of Golden Terra Oil at the supermarket, he did so not just as a consumer, but as someone who had been touched by the power of nostalgia and the enduring bond of family.
The “Pour Pure Love” campaign emphasises the importance of creating an emotional connection with consumers by offering meaningful connections in addition to high-quality products.
Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, Probal Bhattacharya stated that the outpouring of positive reviews and engagement from consumers for the “Pour Pure Love” campaign underscores the enduring connection between Golden Terra Soya Oil and the moments of motherly love and care shared around the dining table.
“Our goal is to be more than just a product on the shelf – we strive to be a trusted companion, a source of inspiration, and a symbol of warmth and love. With the Pour Pure Love campaign, Golden Terra Oil pays tribute to all the world’s Moms for the warm tasty meals that fill our hearts and our souls with all the love that they pour selflessly into our lives,” he stated.
Golden Terra Soya Oil is a premium, all-purpose cooking oil made from 100 percent pure soya beans, sourced and manufactured in Nigeria. It contains 5x more PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) proven to deliver numerous health benefits, like reducing cholesterol, maintaining a healthier heart, enhancing nerve function, boosting brain health, and supporting muscle strength. Discerning consumers trust Golden Terra Soya Oil to bring an unmatched balance of Taste & Health to every dish cooked with it. Available in various sizes, including 1000ml pouch, 700ml and 1.4L bottles, and 2.5L, 4.5L, and 25L kegs.
Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group is an international investment and holding company with diversified interests and investments across Africa, The Middle East, Asia, and other emerging markets. TGI’s investments focus on driving inclusivity and value addition using locally sourced raw materials, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and a highly skilled workforce to produce world-class products that are consumed both locally and exported to global markets. Across markets, TGI Group owns over a hundred leading brands in Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Agricultural Inputs, Industrial Chemicals, Homecare Products and Pharmaceuticals.
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