The Association of Nigerian Women Business Network { ANWBN} which started its first webinar yesterday Tuesday the 29th of September 2020 continues today 30th September 2020, as notable speakers were in attendance to give talks on issues bothering on challenges women are facing in their businesses in Nigeria.

Today''s session was moderated by Mrs Funmilayo Aworoogun, who introduced some of the speakers which include:  Professor Sarah Ayang Agbor Commissioner  of Education, Human Resources, Science and Technolg from ,frican Union , Profesor Aina Olunukola Adeogun from University of Ibadan , Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke, the wife of the former Governor of Cross River State, and many others.

Professor Sarah who was one of the guest speakers talked about how women allow their gender come in the way of their success.

She stated that: “most women have been keeping quiet, so now is the time for us to speak up because we can’t achieve anything if we have fear in our hearts. There’s more we can achieve without the fear of the society, family, religion, and our gender.

Women need to help their fellow women scale up their businesses, because the vision of the ANWBN is the African vision. Women are gatherers and not scatterers because of the passion in us we gather, we don’t scatter’’.

She called on ANWBN  to help petty traders make their businesses look more dignifying and valuable, which is by training them.  She further encouraged women to keep on working because the journey is far and you can only achieve success by pushing.

Professor Aina Adeogun who was also one of the  speakers, spoke on: "The Uniqueness of The Female Gender."

In her speech, she said ‘’in the issue of creation, what we hear from the religious aspect is that a woman was created from a man who was created from dust, what people don’t know is that women are double refined from the dust. If we know our strength as women,no matter what happens, no one can take the fire out of our souls and the passion in our hearts, because they are ours to keep forever’’.

The Deputy Governor of CBN Hajia Aisha Ahmad, was represented by Mrs Eirene Dyitkuka who spoke on: "Access To Finance And The Role Of The CBN In Granting Access To Finance." She said that the CBN plays a complementary role in what the government is doing. She further stated that the CBN ensures monetary and price stability as a means of granting access to finance  to ANWBN, but the CBN does not deal directly with the members but through other banks.

She further stated that there are various programmes which helps younger generations, and these programs include: agricultural skill training, the health sector research and development intervention amongst others. She also stated that there are financial aspects of different working groups such as single digit interest.  She  further advised women to hold on to each other.She urged them to visit the CBN';;s website for morw information www.cbn.gov.ng or Fis@cbn.gov.ng

Also present at the webinar was Mrs Selima Ahmad who  congratulated ANWBN for organizing this summit and encouraged women to keep working and keep dreaming. She urged them not to be only dreamers but also doers, stating that when women work together they go far and achieve greatness.

During the summit the panel session of finance was introduced by Mrs Amede Achingale. She also introduced members of the panel which include: Hon Mrs Aisha Abubakar,Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr Yusuf Phillip, Mrs Adebisi Ajayi and Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke.

Hajiya Aisha Abubakar spoke on the following topic:"Financing For Women Owned Businesses, and Moving from Problems to Action and Prosperity." She started by saying:"women do not acknowledge their informal businesses as their major source of income and therefore do not record it as such.

She further explained the problems that prevent women from having financial access and they include: lack of collaterals, poor access to loans, lack of credit history, low financial literacy, socio-cultural restraints and so on, she went on to talk about how these problems can be addressed.

Other invited guests include: Mrs Barb Langley, Mrs Ibironke Sodeinde, Mr Hakeem Mudashiru, Mrs Manizha and Mrs Joy Nweke .