On the 7th of February 2008, the Women’s Conference Centre in Abuja was the choice venue of the Women and Access to Business Capital Forum. This was the first gender focused forum organized by Rimsom Associates.

As suggested by the theme: “Mitigating the Gender Gaps in Nigeria’s Emerging Market”, the forum was designed as a town hall meeting to enable women discuss the issues and challenges they face in accessing business capital.

Hosted by the Bank of Industry, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs, the forum recorded a large turn-out in attendance of women that cut across the nation’s economy. The United States Ambassador, Ms. Robin Renee Sanders was present as the Speaker of the day while the First Lady, Hajia Turai Umar Musa Yar’Adua, represented by the Minister for Women Affairs, Honourable Saudatu Usman Bungudu, was the Special Guest of Honour. Also in attendance were a large number of female legislators, including the Chair of the House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Representative Beni Lar and Nigeria’s first ever female presidential candidate, Mrs. Sarah Jibril.

The joint host, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, MD/CEO BOI in her welcome remarks highlighted the importance of women getting involved in the development process of the economy. She also mentioned that the Bank of Industry set up a gender desk for women to finance women owned businesses across the country.

Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders in her speech said the US Government will continue to partner with Nigeria to empower and educate women as well as help narrow the gender gap in the country’s emerging market. “Investing in people is one of the pillars of our partnership framework with Nigeria,” she stated.

Sharing examples of American investments and support to Nigerian women and young girls through a wide variety of activities, Ambassador Sanders said that she looks forward to building upon the already firm foundation of partnership between the United States and Nigeria to provide more equity for women to participate fully in Nigeria’s political business, and social sectors.

The Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Honourable Saudatu Usman Bungudu, in her speech talked about various federal government programs designed to empower women and also gave the assurance of government support especially regarding women owned businesses.

Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs, Honourable Beni Lar, talked extensively on Nigerian policies affecting gender and financing. In her speech she encouraged women to take advantage of the opportunities made available to them by the Constitution.

The discussion in the forum was centered on opportunities and impediments to micro credit access in support of small businesses and women entrepreneurial initiatives.