 |
| l-r: Nokia West Africa Vice President, James Rutherford; CEO, Rise Networks, Toyosi Akerele; founder, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Cherie Blair; Chief Catalyst, IMC, Olusola Lanre and Nokia Life Global Head, Jawahar Kanjilal |
The
former first lady of Britain and founder of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Mrs.
Cherie Blair has declared mobile technology as a tool for women entrepreneurs
in Nigeria.
She
also said, financial empowerment is key in order for women to benefit their
family as well as the national economy if given the right tool like mobile
technology.
Speaking
at the launch of Business Women, a service just added to the Nokia Life Tool services,
Mrs. Blair affirmed that access to the right information and knowledge is very
important to the survival of business women entrepreneurs in a country like
Nigeria.
She
explained that Business Women service was birthed following a partnership
between the leading mobile phone manufacturer in the world, Nokia Corporation, Cherie
Blair Foundation for Women and MTN Nigeria, to provide essential business and
entrepreneurship tips for women in the country.
With
the partnership, she said, Nokia has reaffirmed commitment to connect people to
opportunities and make women a larger part of the next billion people to be
connected.
Additionally,
she said, Business Women’s Short Messaging Service (SMS) platform is about
essential business and entrepreneurship tips delivered on mobile phones through
the Nokia Life Tool service.
Testifying
to the role of mobile technology, Mrs. Blair said mobile technology has kept
her in profession after being a first lady for some years, hence if it could
work for her definitely women around the world could also clinch on it and
benefit.
The
service, she said has the potential to empower thousands of women business
owners, giving them the chances of becoming financially independent and that
making the most of their talents is key to higher standards of living for the
women and their families.
Former
British first lady revealed that Nigeria, Indonesia and Egypt are the three
countries to benefit from the services for now and that it would be rolled out
to other parts of the continent and the globe as soon as possible.
“Use
this phone and show that women can perform when equipped with the right tools,”
Blair advised.
Also
speaking at the launch, the Corporate Services Executives at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Wale
Goodluck said the company has gender empowerment at heart which gives reason
for having some important executive position at MTN being occupied by women,
recognizing the power that women bring to the table.
He
also noted that making data and the right information available to people will
enrich their lives which will affect their way of lives as well as the national
economy.
The
founder and chief executive officer of Rise Group, Toyosi Akerele in her remark
advocated the promotion of local content created by Nigerian women. She also
urged successful women in the society to pick up role as mentors to young women
and affect their lives positively.
Jawahar
Kanjilal, Nokia Life Global Head and Vice President explained the journey of
Nokia Life Tools, saying its targeted information to the right individuals with
relevance to their way of life.
Nokia
revealed that Business Women is introduced to provide access to affordable
resources, marketing channels and training inputs as women entrepreneurs are
faced with significant barriers in their business.
According
to Kanjilal, about 17 million people have experienced Nokia Life tool. “Nokia
Life is truly making the mobile phone a life tool.
The
report of a research conducted on Nigeria women entrepreneurs by Cherie Blair
Foundation for Women with the support of ExxonMobil Foundation revealed that 93
per cent of Nigerian women entrepreneurs are willing to take on Business Women
as a value-added mobile service in a bid to combat major challenges they face
in their businesses.
Also,
the research shows that 75 per cent of Nigerian women entrepreneurs believe
that addressing the challenges they face in business will lead to a significant
increase in the value of their business.
Yinka Awosanya
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
No comments:
Post a Comment