In a world where women are increasingly breaking barriers and reshaping industries, The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has provided funding to International NGO, Women In Africa (WIA), to support Nigerian female entrepreneurs through their initiative- JAMII Femmes.
Launched in 2022 across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ivory Coast, and aiming to accelerate 14,000 African women entrepreneurs over two years through funding, business incubation, mentorship, and new networking opportunities, Jamii Femmes is fostering a powerful economic transformation on the continent.
Following the completion of Cohort 1 of the program in Nigeria, an intensive bootcamp in Lagos for 20 outstanding participants was inaugurated to further build acumen and critical business skills needed for the acceleration and scaling of their respective small businesses. The intensive bootcamp focused on developing critical business skills, expanding professional networks, and facilitating the growth of small business enterprises by fostering a deeper understanding of the legal and socio-economic context of the Nigerian business terrain.
Speaking about the initiative, Saadia Madsbjerg, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, underscored the Foundation’s unwavering mission to create positive change within every community the company serves.
She stated, “Our objective is to generate tangible and enduring impact at the local level, and the JAMII Femmes initiative exemplifies such outstanding achievements across the African continent”.
As a testament to the initiative’s success in bolstering the financial resilience of female African entrepreneurs and, in turn, their communities, Saadia reaffirmed the Foundation’s ongoing dedication to identifying and tackling multifaceted challenges affecting communities globally.
Echoing these sentiments, Hafsat Abiola, President of Women In Africa, asserted that empowering African women extended beyond economic growth and encompasses unlocking their boundless potential and creativity. She highlighted that the JAMII Femmes initiative would continue to equip women with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to overcome challenges and become influential leaders who would in turn shape Africa’s future.
High point of the closing ceremony was the award of $1,600 business seed grant to participants with the special Laureate grant award of $10,000 going to Chioma Echegwisi, Founder of Davichi Farms and Agrotech Nigeria Limited, for her brilliant presentation throughout the keenly contested stages of the empowerment program. According to the organizers, the grants will go towards accelerating and implementing the business expansion plans developed by the recipients during the program and bootcamp.
The success stories emerging from the JAMII Femmes initiative continue to inspire countless aspiring female entrepreneurs, exemplifying the initiative’s transformative potential. Through its unwavering commitment to female empowerment, The Coca-Cola Foundation continues to challenge stereotypes and inspire more women to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
About Women In Africa (WiA)
Women In Africa is a social impact company whose mission is to support African women entrepreneurs and leaders in their journey to impact the continent’s economy.
Over the past 6 years, WIA has developed the first pan-African and international platform bringing together all relevant actors; WIA implements training and mentoring programmes, and communicates extensively on the themes “*Women *Business *Africa”.
Through the Women in Africa Philanthropy Endowment Fund, WIA and its patrons develop programmes to support African women, whether they are students, entrepreneurs or leaders. They are the lead implementer of the Jamii Femmes Initiative.
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
The Coca-Cola Foundation’s mission is to make a difference in communities around the world where The Coca-Cola Company operates and where our employees live and work. We support transformative ideas and institutions that address complex global challenges and that leave a measurable and lasting impact. Our giving is focused on sustainable access to safe water, climate resilience and disaster risk preparedness and response, circular economy, economic empowerment, and causes impacting our hometown community. Since its inception in 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded grants of over $1.5 billion in service of its mandate to strengthen communities across the world.
