The Association of Nigeria Women Business Network (ANWBN) has announced plans to create a dedicated e-commerce platform aimed at supporting women entr
The Association of Nigeria Women Business Network (ANWBN) has announced plans to create a dedicated e-commerce platform aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs across Nigeria and Africa.
Angela Ajala, the network’s national coordinator, revealed this initiative during the 2024 annual summit titled “Future-Ready Entrepreneurs: Skill Up to Scale Up” held in Lagos. This platform will enable women entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products and services globally, providing increased visibility and an opportunity to expand their customer base.
Challenges in business
Ajala highlighted that many women in business face barriers such as limited access to financing, excessive taxation, inadequate infrastructure, and security concerns. The e-commerce platform is designed to address some of these challenges by reducing operational costs and offering a digital space for entrepreneurs skilled in various fields—from product sales to services like hairdressing, CV writing, coaching, and consulting. This digital marketplace aims to empower women by making their businesses more accessible to customers both locally and internationally.
“So we’re now telling them this is the time to sell online so that you reduce your cost and there’s no way you can sell online if you are not visible and if your products are not excellent. So, we’re also launching an e-commerce platform for women, not only in Nigeria, but across Africa, where they can showcase what they do. And we’re not talking about women that are selling products alone, maybe garri, or whatever, which means if you’re very good at making hair, we want to showcase you on that platform to tell the world what you are doing,” said Angela Ajala.