OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF ESLF’s WOMEN AND YOUTH SUMMITS 2016-2018

2016 Women Economic Summit

Objectives

i. To create an opportunity for Benue women to share the challenges hampering their access and participation in business
ii. To forge new partnerships that will scale up existing initiatives that benefit Benue women in business
iii. To initiate dialogue between regulators, financial institutions and the business community on how to create more friendly conditions for Benue women in business

Achievements

i. Knowledge of over 600 women built on opportunities for business in Benue
ii. Follow up vocational skills training for over 200 participants in chosen areas of interestin 17 LGAs

2017 Women Economic Summit

Objectives

i. To review the successes of the 2017 summit, using lessons learnt to improve programme design
ii. To afford women an opportunity to network, share their experiences, inspire and encourage other women to get involved in business
iii. To build the capacity of women on enterprise management
iv. To expose women to sources of capital with which to start-up or grow their businesses
v. To afford women the opportunity to showcase goods and services wherein they have a comparative advantage.

Achievements

i. Knowledge of over 2000 women built on opportunities for business in Benue
ii. Women showcased goods wherein they have a comparative advantage
iii. Follow up vocational skills training for over 200 participants in chosen areas of interest in 17 LGAs
iv. Near 100 non-participants of both summits also sponsored to undergo vocational skills training across 17 LGAs

2017 Youth Entrepreneurship Summit-

Objectives

i. To build knowledge of Benue youth on entrepreneurship
ii. To provide an opportunity for Benue youth to interact and be motivated by sharing in the experiences of other young entrepreneurs across Nigeria, so they could take informed entrepreneurial action
iii. To identify and expose beneficiaries to local and international vocational skills training, to advance local production that competes at the global space

Achievements

i. Knowledge of over 600 youth built on entrepreneurship
ii. 4 youth sponsored to undergo master vocational training in leather and fibre works in China
iii. 192 other youth sponsored to undergo local trainings in Leather works, hairdressing and styling, baking and confectionary making as well as tailoring. Participants drawn across 23 LGAs
iv. 50 other youth currently undergoing step-down trainings in leather and fibre works
v. Another 25 soon to commence training in food processing at CEFTER

2018 Proposed Combined Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Summit

Objectives

i. To expose participants to entrepreneurship opportunities available in Benue State.
ii. To showcase goods and services, especially, those made in Benue and by beneficiaries of ESLF’s training programmes.
iii. To build knowledge of participants on ICT options available for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
iv. To expose participants to business registration options available for MSMEs
v. To build knowledge of participants on Value Chain Development