BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
An entreprenuer has set a target of providing 100,000 direct factory jobs for women within the first five years, while expanding to 400,000 women nationwide.
National Coordinator of Mama’s Manufacturing Company, Mrs Chinwe Obi stated this on Tuesday during the unveiling of 'Mama Pay' empowerment programme in Abuja.
The initiative was designed to increase women’s participation in manufacturing through training, ownership opportunities, raw-material supply chains and product distribution networks across Nigeria.
Obi stated that the programme would promote local production by sourcing about 80 per cent of its raw materials within Nigeria to strengthen domestic industries.
She noted that the company would produce food, beverages, beauty, hygiene and household products, with factories established across states based on availability of raw materials.
The Coordinator hinted that the programme would also provide business and technology training to women, strengthening their capacity to participate effectively in manufacturing and value-chain activities.
Obi noted that the organisers are partnering with relevant government and private-sector organisations to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and global best manufacturing practices.
The Coordinator informed that the initiative would deploy technology to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency while facilitating women’s access to finance, information and broader market opportunities.
Obi said though the programme would encounter challenges, particularly knowledge gaps, but regular training, mentorship and orientation programmes would help to address such limitations effectively.
She encouraged Nigerian women to participate actively in the programme and take advantage of opportunities provided for ownership, entrepreneurship and long-term economic empowerment.
Obi assured that the company would train more than 5,000 women in manufacturing across Nigeria, adding that 90 per cent of the company’s shares would be allocated to Nigerian women, enabling them to earn dividends and build sustainable wealth.
Head of Screening and Mobilisation, Mama Pay West Africa, Mrs Ruth Akoh stated that the initiative was designed to address gaps between government policies and implementation.
Akoh hinted that the empowerment programme had moved beyond seminars and trainings to practical implementation, focusing on equipping women with skills and linking them directly.
She was optimistic that the initiative would help bridge information gap while providing trained women with access to established markets for products manufactured through the programme.
Akoh informed that the Company was designed to create an ecosystem where women could produce goods while enjoying guaranteed access to viable markets.
Apart from Abuja, the programme is expected to extend to Akwa Ibom, Lagos and other states nationwide.
It will also be visible in other West African countries, creating broader opportunities for women entrepreneurs and strengthening regional economic integration efforts.
The Chief Executive Officer of Duchess Nigeria Limited, Dr Victoria Akai noted that
women’s participation in ownership, production and decision-making processes remained critical to sustainable economic development and growth.
She informed that a women-centred economic system should effectively connect skills acquisition with finance, production, market access and long-term wealth creation opportunities.
Akai, who was a former Director-General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, sought
improved access to finance, infrastructure, markets, technology and legal protections to support growth and sustainability of women-owned businesses nationwide.
She disclosed that such interventions would strengthen productivity, promote job creation, enhance food security and boost intra-African trade across multiple sectors and industries.
Akai enjoined the government and private-sector organisations to create more procurement opportunities for women-owned businesses and ensure timely payment for goods and services.
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