Celebrating women entrepreneurs of Nagaland

February 7, 2024 63 Views No Comment

Kohima, February 7 (MExN): The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) and Friends of Women’s World Banking (FWWB), as part of the ‘Nurturing Women Entrepreneurship Program,’ organised a sales day event at Old NST in the Kohima District of Nagaland on February 6.

This event aimed to showcase the entrepreneurial ventures of women from four districts of Nagaland: Mon, Tuensang, Phek, and Dimapur.

A total of 27 enthusiastic women entrepreneurs participated in the event, setting up stalls featuring a diverse range of products such as pickles, tribal ornaments, baskets, bags, snacks, baked goods, candies, and more.

The event commenced with a brief program chaired by Manpang Nyiam, Associate Project Coordinator of tEA. Following this, Neha, Chief Operating Officer of FWWB, delivered an address, providing insights on entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment. She stated, “This sales day is a small effort between tEA and FWWB to create a platform for our women, with an aim to give them market exposure. It is truly overwhelming to see so many women entrepreneurs, here today, who have travelled across from distant locations and it is so nice to see that the trainings, the efforts and the capacity building support, has shown a significant result.”

Anatoli V Awomi, representing the Dimapur Team consisting of 10 members, delivered a speech during the event. She expressed sincere gratitude to tEA and FWWB for their unwavering support and encouragement towards their entrepreneurial endeavors. Awomi’s speech highlighted the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Dimapur and how the support from these organizations has been instrumental in their journey towards success.

“There are many ways beyond government job, to earn a living and contribute to our society. It was because of all the guidance and skillful mentorship provided by these two organizations, that we are able to showcase our products today in this mega event,” Awomi expressed.

During the event, Neitshote-u Mero, representing the Phek team, shared her entrepreneurial journey with the audience. Mero expressed gratitude towards FWWB and tEA for recognizing and consistently supporting her small business. She highlighted the significant impact of their support, mentioning how it facilitated the expansion and improvement of her business, and specifically mentioned the assistance provided by FWWB and tEA in establishing her business’s online presence, including the creation of an Instagram account for product advertising. Additionally, they helped her set up a Google Pay account, enhancing the accessibility and convenience of her business operations.

Mero’s testimonial underscores the valuable support provided by organizations like FWWB and tEA in empowering women entrepreneurs, enabling them to grow and thrive in their ventures.

The women entrepreneurs participating in the event had previously undergone a comprehensive weeklong intensive training session on Financial Education and Business Management (FEBMS). This training aimed to equip them with essential skills and knowledge in areas such as savings, budgeting, smart money management, record-keeping, and the utilization of digital banking apps and social media platforms to strengthen their market presence and reach potential customers.

In addition to the FEBMS session, the women also received training in various skill sets aligned with their existing micro-businesses and interests. These skill training sessions covered a range of topics including food processing such as pickle making, chips making, juice making, baking, as well as crochet handbag and footwear making.

“Moving forward, tEA in collaboration with FWWB, is committed to further supporting these women entrepreneurs by encouraging them to practically apply their acquired knowledge and gain business-related experience through various opportunities and additional training programs,” Kele Mejura, Social Media Associate, tEA stated in a press release. Furthermore, efforts will be made to facilitate market linkages, thereby enhancing the visibility and accessibility of their products and services in the marketplace.