NFNV-Nigeria holds national roundtable on women financial inclusion, economic recovery

 
As an outcome of the Expert Leaders Group (ELG) convening by the Graca Machel Trust (GMT), New Faces, New Voices (NFNV-Nigeria) is convening a National Roundtable to critically assess the financial and economic ecosystem in women’s path to business recovery, post COVID-19. The roundtable is holding against backdrop of the 2022 Women’s Month under the theme: #BreakTheBias.
The roundtable which will be in hybrid format will be held March 15, 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria, under the theme: “Building an inclusive financial ecosystem for women-led businesses in Nigeria – post-Covid-19”. Amongst others, the roundtable will bring together key government representatives, professionals in the financial and economic sectors, private sector as well as business support organisations.
In 2021, NFNV-Nigeria in partnership with other networks under the GMT, conducted a research on women in finance whose findings revealed many women-owned businesses had crashed as a result of the reduction in consumer demand. Consequently, 92.4% of women were unable to service their debts and float their businesses. Also, a huge number of women were oblivious of the many government financial interventions because they perceive it as not inclusive, democratized and inaccessible.
To change this trend, the national roundtable will among others, evaluate how key government financial policies, programs and interventions can cushion the aftermath effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also seeks to recommend actions to guarantee a gender-inclusive post-Covid-19 reclamation to ensure Nigeria builds back better. Thus, the roundtable will also identify, recommend and evaluate policies, procedures and programs aimed at promoting inclusive digitalization.
In a related development, NFNV Nigeria wishes to announce its new partnership with Sterling Bank Alternative Finance to avail Nigerian women the opportunity to access financing of up to ₦100 million to meet their business needs, at lower interest rates.