Access Bank, through its W Initiative, is providing substantial support to women entrepreneurs in the event industry, aiming to help them leverage industry opportunities and scale their businesses. This initiative was highlighted at a recent roundtable discussion where key representatives from Access Bank engaged with women entrepreneurs.
Industry Insights and Bank Support:
Abiodun Olubitan, the Group Head of Women Banking at Access Bank, emphasized the significant potential within the event industry, which is valued at $2 billion annually. She encouraged event industry practitioners to expand their businesses and capitalize on the opportunities in the sector. Olubitan stated, “The event industry is worth $2 billion annually and we need to pay attention to it.” She assured the attendees that Access Bank is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs in growing their businesses faster than they could independently.
The Role of Women in the Event Industry:
Gbemisola Ajibulu, Team Lead of the W Initiative at Access Bank, highlighted the bank’s decision to organize the event to recognize the vital role women play in the event industry and their broader economic contributions. Ajibulu remarked, “We understand that women play a very important role in the economy generally, and the events industry is also a very important sector as well, and it is majorly dominated by women.”
She further explained that Access Bank’s support goes beyond traditional banking services, extending to training and financial assistance. “We are not just a bank; we also care about businesses and their growth and about women doing business. We aim to equip them with both financial and non-financial resources to help their businesses grow,” Ajibulu added.
Training and Skill Development:
Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola, CEO of Writer Corporate & Personal Brand Story Architect, conducted a training session on leveraging social media for marketing. She underscored the importance of an online presence for business growth, stating, “By putting yourself out there online, you make it possible for someone who is far away and has never heard of you before to patronize your products. This way, businesses can now scale and increase their customer base.”
Olosunde-Jenrola noted that online marketing ensures businesses can attract multiple customers, significantly expanding their reach.
Participants’ Feedback:
Participants at the event expressed their gratitude for the initiative. Kemi Awe of Kiversworld Catering and Services praised Access Bank for the valuable insights and support provided. “Before this event, there were several things that I didn’t know about my business that I was able to learn during the breakout session. I now understand that it is possible to have all my CAC registration done by the bank, making my business official and registered,” Awe shared.
She also appreciated the social media training session, noting, “I enjoyed the social media training session and the tips that were shared to enable me to grow my business online. In all, it was an amazing experience.”
Access Bank’s W Initiative continues to play a crucial role in empowering women entrepreneurs, particularly in the event industry, by providing the necessary tools, resources, and support to help them succeed and grow.
