by Amira Berrada - Africa -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nigeria Chapter of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) Launched to Boost Cross-Border Entrepreneurship

The Nigerian Chapter of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) has been launched with the objective of promoting and facilitating trade by women-owned enterprises in the sub-Saharan region. The organization further includes in its mission creating effective channels for women to access financing and build wealth.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochepke; chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Women Group (NAWORG) and facilitator of ECOWAS/FEBWE, Mrs Alaba Lawson; and President of ECOWAS/FEBWE, Candide Leguede; discussed how best to integrate “gender dimensions into national trade policies” and empower women to work towards meeting the millennium development goals, a set of goals established in 2000 by the United Nations to end poverty by 2015.

By Amira Berrada, Research Associate

About Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a group of 15 West African countries dedicated to economic integration in all fields of economic activity including transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, commerce and social and cultural matters. The ECOWAS is composed of four institutions: the Commission, the Community Parliament, the Community Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). It was founded in 1975.

About Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE): The Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) is a branch of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) dedicated to promoting economic development for women entrepreneurs in Africa.

Sources and Resources:

[1] http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/mobile/business/industry…

MicroCapital.org article, July 21, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: African Development Bank (AfDB), Spain Launch Microfinance Capacity Building Fund Africa, Offering Funding Through Request for Proposals” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-african-development-bank-…

MicroCapital Universe Profile for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Eco…

MicroCapital Universe Profile for Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Fed…

MicroCapital Universe Profile for Millennium Development Goals (MDG): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Millennium+Development+Goals+%28MDGs%29

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/

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Amira joined MicroCapital while working at Export Development Canada (EDC) as a Credit Insurance Underwriter. Amira holds a Bachelor degree in International Business and Finance from Concordia University in Montreal. While completing her bachelor degree, Amira spent a semester in France and upon graduation, three months in India working with non-governmental agencies, political and spiritual groups for various socioeconomic initiatives such as the advancement of women. While travelling to different cities and rural areas in India, Amira was touched by the poverty she witnessed and was dedicated to finding a way to intertwine her business interests with her passion for development. She hopes this internship in microfinance will provide the framework to integrate an element of development into her professional career as well as positively contribute to the field of microfinance. Amira speaks English, French, and Spanish fluently and has conversational knowledge in Portuguese and Arabic. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants such as molecular gastronomy, restaurants made out of ice and Nicaraguan meals wrapped in banana leaves. Most of all, she loves to travel with loved ones.