Under the theme “Accelerating Women’s Economic Empowerment In Africa’s Best Interest”, the 2nd edition of the premier Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) will once again gather, from across Africa and the globe, top women entrepreneurs and women in business, thought leaders, investors, SMEs, MSMEs, international development organizations, NGOs, foundations, government policy-makers, and the media. AWIEF is a platform to discuss the role of women in Africa’s economic growth, address the challenges faced by female business-owners, analyze those challenges and proffer innovative and sustainable solutions that effectively foster the empowerment of African women and unleash their full potential for successful business entrepreneurship.
The conference will feature participation from global leading institutions and decision- makers seeking to transform the African economy with women empowerment as a driver of development.
Addressing Current Challenges
According to Irene Ochem, AWIEF Founder and Managing Director of ICO Conferences & Events, “Despite leading the world on women entrepreneurship, African female business-owners enjoy less recognition and support than their male counterparts for their contribution to poverty reduction, employment and wealth creation. AWIEF will unveil comprehensive strategies for enhanced economic participation and opportunities for women throughout the continent. We are addressing such current challenges as inequalities in access to economic opportunities, less access to finance, technology, market information, business networks, as well as gender bias in education and skills development.”
She continues: “This year the AWIEF pre-conference training workshops will focus on three areas: 1) Technology in Business 2) Entrepreneurship Strategies and Creativity in Business 3) Result-Oriented Sustainable Business Development.”
The 2016 AWIEF Conference targets the broadest spectrum of participants and regional inclusion from across Africa and has received endorsement and support from many relevant African and global institutions and organizations. AWIEF will create a networking opportunity with potential business partnerships, knowledge-sharing and peer-learning. It, therefore, allows African women entrepreneurs compare their challenges, learn and connect across borders to enhance and expand their impact.
With a wider coverage of exhibitions, AWIEF provides the perfect continental platform to present and showcase your brands, technologies, products and services to female African decision makers, influencers and qualified buyers from diverse industry and business sectors.
AWIEF is your opportunity to be a part of a continental drive to invest in and support the empowerment of women for unleashing Africa’s full economic growth and transformation. You will meet face-to-face for two days with top local and international professionals and business women from diverse industries.
Speakers
AWIEF 2016 has an exciting concentration of esteemed, high-level, reputable and international speaker profiles which include:
H.E. Susan Shabangu, Honourable Minister of Women in the Presidency, South Africa
H.E. Dr Diane Gashumba, Honourable Minister of Gender & Family Promotion, Rwanda
H.E. Senator Aisha Alhassan, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Nigeria
Almas Jiwani, President Emeritus, UN Women Canada & Founder/CEO, Almas Jiwani Foundation, Canada
Melody Kweba, President/Chairperson, South African Women in Mining Association (SAWIMA), South Africa
Tara Femi-Durotoye, CEO/Creative Director, House of Tara International, Nigeria
Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder/Chief Responsibility Officer, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Nigeria
Khanyi Dhlomo, Founder/CEO, Ndalo Media, South Africa
Fiorina Mugione, Chief, Entrepreneurship Section, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Switzerland
Mary Olushoga, Founder AWP Network, USA
Regina Honu, Founder/CEO, Soronko Solutions, Ghana
Melanie Hawken, Founder/Editor-in-Chief, Lionesses of Africa, South Africa
Shimite Bello, Group President/CEO, Quintessential Group, Nigeria
Thelma Ekiyor, Co-Founder/CEO, Afrigrants Resources Ltd, Nigeria
Sandra L Ross, Associate Executive Director, LITE-Africa
Nkemdilim Begho, Founder/Managing Director, Future Software Resources Ltd, Nigeria
Christine Ngiriye, Managing Director, Africa 2.0, Rwanda
Achenyo Idachaba, Founder/Creative Director, MitiMeth, Nigeria
Hilda Ndude, Chairperson, Black Business Women Association (BBWA), South Africa
Dates and Venue:
Two-day Conference and Exhibition: 29 – 30 September 2016
Pre-Conference Workshops: 28 September 2016
Venue: The Civic Centre, Lagos, Nigeria
To register and attend (by email or online):
Telephone: +27 21 826 8878
Mobile: +234 814 376 9875 (Nigeria); +27 76 052 1199 (South Africa)
Email: info@icoconferences.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AWIEFInitiative
Twitter: @awieforum
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