Wema Bank, through its women-focused initiative SARA by Wema, has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch the MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme. This initiative aims to empower 500,000 women in Nigeria by providing them with vocational and business management skills.
SARA by Wema is dedicated to promoting gender inclusion and equality by equipping women with tailored resources and opportunities essential for their personal and professional success. Through this initiative, Wema Bank has already empowered thousands of women with access to financing, market opportunities, networking, affordable healthcare, and other benefits, collaborating with reputable brands and institutions to amplify its impact. The MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme is a significant extension of these efforts, poised to transform the lives of women across the country.
The MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme will run for 24 months, covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The curriculum focuses on vocational and business management skills, featuring two days of soft skills training followed by two days of vocational training, with a final day dedicated to assessment and evaluation. The programme will target three key vocational areas: food processing, fashion design, and hairdressing. In-person training sessions will be organized into eight cohorts, starting with a pilot phase in Anambra and extending to Ekiti and Kano. This capacity-building initiative aims to empower more Nigerian women to generate income, become economically active, contribute to national development, and help close the gender inclusion gap.
Tunde Mabawonku, Wema Bank’s Executive Director of Retail and Digital, expressed confidence in the programme’s potential to empower women. “Nigeria’s dynamic macroeconomic landscape necessitates a focused approach to providing tailored solutions that empower our population, especially women. At Wema Bank, we are committed to addressing this need, as reflected in our mission to empower lives through innovation. Our initiatives, including SARA by Wema, aim to deliver unique solutions that extend beyond banking, enabling women to maximize their potential,” Mabawonku said.
“I encourage all women interested in acquiring income-generating skills to register for the MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme. We also have grants available, making this a comprehensive opportunity for economic engagement. Inclusion is at the heart of our mission, and we have designed this programme to benefit women of all ages across the country. I invite every woman to join the SARA Community, where they can access a wealth of opportunities tailored for their growth,” she added.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister for Women Affairs, emphasized the importance of women’s empowerment. “When women are empowered to earn income, many challenges stemming from gender inequality can be alleviated. This partnership extends beyond the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to encompass all Nigerian women. Our goal is to ensure the sustainability of women empowerment initiatives by collaborating with the private sector. Wema Bank is poised for success, and we are committed to achieving our objectives together,” she stated.
The MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme was officially launched at a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony on September 30, 2024, at the Ministry of Women Affairs office in Abuja.
