Comfort Yakubu
Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative, in partnership with Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry have lunched the upgraded version of the KOWGO APP An indigenous gender-friendly online/offline Mobile Technology-Based Application for addressing the gender digital divide and for enhancing financial inclusion of formal and informal Micro and Small-scale entrepreneurs across sectors.
Comfort Yakubu
The APP targets traders to give international visibility to locally produced goods and provide access to financial support. Speaking on the occasion, Convener of Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative, ( WADHI), Mrs. Esther Eghobamien- Mshelia, said the APP provides training resources, an application that would aid market access, ensure finanicial inclusion, ensure access to savings and loans inclusive of a concise business records for women owned businesses and small and medium scale enterprises “The ‘KOWGO app’ is a tool that will help the women, it will help them to learn how to keep records of their businesses in their phones and also back up at homes,” she noted that it is very important for made in Nigeria products to sell internationally because it would not only increase the earnings of business owners but also boost the nation’s image in the global market scene, especially women- owned businesses. the Kowgo app is expected to boost sales in the global market.
About 4,000 women traders, have been trained she added that Nigerian women had become courageous in breaking economic limitations around them through micro entrepreneurship, but were yet to start taking advantage of online marketing to promote their products. She decried Nigerian women’s backwardness in the use of technologies available for economic empowerment. The event took place at the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry with a good representation form international communities, traditional and business leaders., government agencies among others. The President of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar speaking on the occasion noted that the KOWGO application would help women in digital applications at their market and revolutionalize how women do business, he also noted that this would facilitate wider content to the outside world.
Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian export Promotion council Segun Awolowo who was represented at the event noted that the council is ready to partner towards successful deployment of the application into the market space and ensuring impact. “We will continue to collaborate and work with you” he told the Women Arise Development and Humanitarian initiative. the Commonwealth Women Business network lauded the development, acknowledging this is a testament to increasing roles played by women in the society. “We appreciate this milestone, women are fast rising around the world, showing resilience, we are deeply inspired by pioneers. We are happy at this initiative and development for the community, this is a huge vision coming to fulfillment. The KOWGO app is an audacious action and a big development” the Commonwealth Women Business Network noted. The United Nations Women in Business also commended the initiative noting that the body remains committed to promotion of women and women’s right. The KOWGO team also promised to work constantly round the clock to ensure more incorporation for women and women businesses.
The KOWGO application which is accessible on google play store is designed to enable women business owners and SME access loans and keep business records. The Application also encourages financial inclusion and ensures market access.
