Skilled Women Initiative (TSWINI), a non-profit organisation with support from a German corporation has unveiled the ‘TSWINI Impact Fund aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among women living in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fund will particularly focus on supporting 10 women for a period of 12 months to establish their businesses.
It is expected to bring forward innovations that will contribute to economic growth and development in Nigeria.
NAN also reports that the fund was achieved with the support of GIZ, Nigeria-German Center for jobs, migration and reintegration among others.
Mrs Chisom Nwankwo, Founder of TSWINI said the fund would promote entrepreneurship and empower the women to be able to support and fend for themselves and their families.
“This impact funds aim at supporting women that have undergone a 24 months training programme in different areas like tailoring, baking, soap making among others.
“We will be providing working space for the women in Kaura market Abuja.
“We will also provide equipment for the women and also support one child of each of the women by paying their one year titiution.
“There is also a one-year health insurance plan for the women and it will be done in partnership with National Health Insurance Scheme.
“Moving forward, the organisation also plans to register at least one of the brand with NAFDAC.
“With this, we believe that it will go a long way to tackle issues of poverty and unemployment for women living in IDPs camps and also push them forward to social integration,”she said.
Nwankwo disclosed that the organisation has also trained over 300 men in IDP camps on fish farming, barbing and capentary.
“In the Malaysian IDP camp there is a big fish farm which have some of the men we trained are handling.
“We also provided the men with a space to market and sell their products in Kaura market.
“We believe that the initiative will heal this individuals from the post event trauma due to the crisis,” she said.
On her part, Mrs Tolu Olaiya, Coordinator for Nigeria- German Center Abuja said she was excited about the impact fund, adding that it came at the right time.
“This will enable the women to look forward to leaving the camp and moving towards social integration.
“This will also help improve the livelihood of these women who are committed to making a difference in their society,” Olaiya said.
Mrs Zara Musa, one of the beneficiaries, expressed appreciation to the organisation for the support with a promise that they would be committed and consistent in their businesses to ensure that it was well utilised..
“We have benefited from this fund and we can assure you that this business we’ve started will enable us to leave the camp by next year and be socially integrated,” Musa said.
NAN also reports that the highlights of the event is the presentation of business registration certificate and smartphones for social media marketing to all the beneficiaries.
(NAN)
