Over 100 grassroots women—mainly subsistence farmers and petty traders—have benefited from a practical leadership and business capacity-building workshop aimed at enhancing income generation and improving community well-being. The one-day programme, hosted in Buzunkure, a rural settlement in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was convened by ENS Innovation Hub Ltd. and White Gold Initiative in collaboration with the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC).
With the theme “Leading Self to Lead Others,” the training focused on equipping women with the mindset and tools required to grow their businesses, manage resources prudently, and step into leadership roles within their communities. Designed around participants’ everyday realities, the sessions offered practical strategies for strengthening money management, improving entrepreneurial practices, and cultivating self-leadership as the first step to influencing others.
Shirley Igbinedion, facilitator and co-founder of ENS Innovation Hub Ltd., stressed that self-leadership is the bedrock of sustainable business and community development. She noted that building confidence, setting realistic goals, and exercising financial discipline are crucial in laying the groundwork for both personal growth and collective impact.
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Through storytelling, role plays, and group discussions, women tackled real-life challenges common in rural enterprises. One standout lesson was the “three pots” money management system, which encourages dividing income into business, household, and savings portions—a method designed to instill discipline, ensure reinvestment, and secure future stability. Participants also explored low-cost strategies to add value, including repackaging farm produce and bundling complementary goods to increase sales.
At the close of the programme, each participant pledged a specific action to implement within a month in order to improve her farm or trade. For many, the experience was eye-opening. “Before now, I never separated my earnings. I’ve learned today that saving is as important as spending,” said Hauwa, a petty trader. Grace, a local farmer, added: “The stories taught me I can begin with little and still grow my business.”
The organisers emphasised that beyond individual gains, the workshop demonstrates the transformative power of targeted grassroots interventions. By equipping rural women with leadership skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial strategies, such initiatives not only strengthen household livelihoods but also contribute to the resilience of local economies—reinforcing micro and small enterprises as vital drivers of Africa’s sustainable development.
