Unity Bank, ANWBN Partner to Empower Over 5,000 Female Entrepreneurs
By Patience Ikpeme
Unity Bank Plc and the Association of Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN) have joined forces to empower women entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
Through the Yanga Account, a targeted savings product with comprehensive benefits, the partnership has reached over 90 women’s groups and empowered over 5,000 women to date.
A recent forum held in Abuja served as the platform for Unity Bank to introduce the Yanga Account to representatives from various women’s business groups. Themed “Building Sustainable Entrepreneurial and Financial Skills for Women in Challenging Times,” the forum highlighted the Yanga Account’s advantages for women entrepreneurs.
The Yanga Account, launched in 2021, offers a comprehensive package designed to address the specific needs of female business owners. Key features include: Capacity Building. The programme provides women with essential skills and knowledge to navigate the business world effectively; MSME Financing Schemes. Access to financing solutions tailored for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) run by women. This includes access to microloans with attractive interest rates; Affordable Health Insurance. The Yanga Account offers access to health insurance plans designed to be affordable for women entrepreneurs and; Cash Management Tools. The programme equips women with the tools and knowledge to manage their business finances effectively.
Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, the Divisional Head of Retail and SME Banking at Unity Bank, emphasized the success of the partnership with ANWBN. She highlighted that over 5,000 women have already benefited from the Yanga Account, gaining access to credit facilities, skills training, and other valuable resources.
The National Coordinator of ANWBN, Ms. Angela Ajala, expressed the association’s appreciation for Unity Bank’s support. She commended the Yanga Account’s alignment with ANWBN’s mission of empowering women with the tools and resources necessary to excel as entrepreneurs and financial leaders. Ms. Ajala also highlighted the vast reach of the ANWBN network, encompassing over 90 women’s business groups with a combined membership exceeding 5 million.
This partnership with ANWBN is not an isolated initiative. Unity Bank recently partnered with SkillPaddy to train 1,000 women in software engineering. These combined efforts demonstrate Unity Bank’s ongoing commitment to empowering women and fostering a more inclusive and thriving business environment in Nigeria.
