More than 5,000 women working in fashion and beauty businesses have graduated from a digital empowerment programme run by the Women Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) in partnership with the Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation.
The women participated in the SHE CAN with ICT programme, a four-week free virtual training course covering a wide range of digital skills. These included digital marketing, video editing, business development and sustainability, productivity tools, content creation, networking, and online business strategies.
At the graduation event in Lagos, five standout participants received seed grants in recognition of their dedication, innovation, and entrepreneurial potential, giving them a boost to further develop their businesses. The event also featured a fashion runway, keynote speeches, an exhibition, mentorship sessions, and a themed fashion display titled “Tech meets glamour.”
W.TEC’s Director, Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to empowering women across various sectors through technology. “Apart from these participants, we are going to open up another edition to new participants. This episode focused on fashion and beauty. Maybe next time, we would focus on a different sector,” she said.
She noted that the latest edition was the largest yet, reaching women not only across Nigeria but also in other African countries thanks to the virtual format. “We have been hosting this Programme for years now, but this is our biggest ever. And because we also held online as well, it was quite possible to reach women across the country and other African countries. We’ve impacted the women with foundation knowledge, enterprise development, technology. We are going to look for advanced training for the participants of this programme. We are going to continue with mentorship as well. We would do more in the future,” she added.
Delivering the keynote address, Judith Nwachukwu, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Delta State, highlighted the importance of networking for women entrepreneurs.
“Networking helps women entrepreneurs grow their business by connecting them with new opportunities and people who can help them succeed. It can lead to finding mentors, getting clients, and forming business partnerships,” she stated.
One of the programme’s graduates, Damilola Idowu, described the training as transformative. “This programme has really assisted in giving me and so many other women the ability that we need to stand out because everything you’re doing now is online. You cannot shy away from the Internet. And without skills, there’s not much you can do.”
