MTN Foundation and UN Women Empower 200 Women in Nigeria

The MTN Foundation, in collaboration with UN Women, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to empower 200 women from Kano and Cross River states. The initiative focuses on capacity building, digital and financial inclusion, market access, and establishing processing hubs.

At the signing ceremony in Lagos, Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, stated that the organization aims for a 50/50 gender balance by 2030, having achieved 43.7% female participation in its programs. The Y’elloPreneur initiative was launched to assist female entrepreneurs in overcoming challenges related to capacity, funding, and market access, with 304 million Naira allocated to 122 female entrepreneurs and capacity building for over 6,000 women.

Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative, emphasized the importance of integrating rural women into the digital economy, particularly in Kano and Cross River due to their strong agricultural activities.