AWIEF, UNIDO and OYA to train 28 young African entrepreneurs on e-commerce

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation. Businesses around the world now see the need to bring their ventures online to connect with existing customers, maintain economic activities, and acquire new customers.

To empower small and growing businesses in Africa with the much-needed e-commerce knowledge and skills, Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has partnered with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Opportunities for Youth in Africa (OYA) and West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) Ghana to launch the Executive E-marketing Programme.

28 entrepreneurs in agro-processing and cosmetics, selected from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and  Zambia will receive training in e-commerce and e-marketing over a period of  10 weeks. They will be empowered with knowledge and skills needed to access markets and take their businesses to the next level.

During the launch event which took place on 15 June, 2021, Mr. Juan Pablo Davila, UNIDO Industrial Development Expert, congratulated the entrepreneurs for being selected for a training programme that would, in no time, transform their lives and businesses. He recounted how the programme which started a year ago in Ghana has empowered a lot of entrepreneurs in a short period of time.

Mr. Davilla  further shared how partnering with AWIEF has been of great help in extending the training to South African entrepreneurs. To drive home the point, Mr. Davila quoted a popular African saying ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together’. He thanked AWIEF for the partnership which is in its second year. He urged the participants to be committed and open to all they will learn from the programme.

In her welcome address, Mrs. Irene Ochem, AWIEF Founder and CEO, expressed her gratitude to UNIDO for the partnership and assured the participants of a transformational experience. She shared how participants of the previous cohort have used the knowledge and skills gained from the programme to quickly grow their businesses and expand their markets, including  selling to international markets.

Mouna Luoubi, UNIDO International Youth Employment Expert in agribusiness reiterated to the participants that the programme would equip them with all they need to be more competitive and also empower them to digitalize various aspects of their businesses. She therefore urged them to make use of the opportunity to enhance their skills and build their digital presence even as they network with peers in the programme.

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