Lack of knowledge, skills hinder women entrepreneurship

December 14, 2010
Wa, Dec.13, GNA - A lecturer at the Wa Polytechnic, Madam Darimani Hamidatu Saaka, has said lack of knowledge and skills among women entrepreneurs had been a hindrance to the growth of their businesses.

She said a few women entrepreneurs who had brilliant ideas never lived to see their projects turn into actual "big businesses" as their initiatives stagnated and others collapsed.

Madam Saaka, the Head of Mechanical Engineering, said this at the launch of the Student Representative Council Ladies Week celebration of the Wa Polytechnic on Monday.

She spoke on the theme: "The role of institutions in the development of female entrepreneurship."

Mad Saaka said although small business enterprises had received support from financial institutions and government agencies, not much had been done in terms of comprehensive practical training.

She said some tertiary institutions were running programmes which were too academic and not packaged to meet the needs of the female entrepreneur.

At the same time, she went on, students often looked for white collar jobs rather than going into their own businesses after completion of their courses and programmes.

Madam Saaka said some organisations were also running seminars and workshops to train existing and would-be female entrepreneurs but the sessions were too short and they did not add to the knowledge requirements of the entrepreneurs.

She urged female entrepreneurs to operate ventures that created new and improved products and services, must find new ways of making products and services available to more people, create jobs and contribute to the economic welfare and tax base of their communities.

Female entrepreneurs should also serve as role models and mentors for aspiring entrepreneurs and other community members, she said.

Madam Saaka appealed to tertiary institutions to promote female entrepreneurship by creating access to entrepreneurial education and training among young female graduates, businesswomen, academia, researchers and students.

The institutions should also embark on entrepreneur-related training programmes in subject areas including risk management and simple book keeping.

They should encourage the formation of entrepreneurship clubs to inculcate in the youth noble ideas early in life through programmes and activities such as workshops, lectures, competitions and field study trips.

GNA