More than 100 grassroots women, mostly subsistence farmers and petty traders, have received training in self-leadership and business development at a one-day capacity-building workshop in Abuja.
The workshop, themed “Leading Self to Lead Others,” was organized by the White Gold Initiative for Women’s Sustainable Development, an NGO led by Dr. Wosilat Omotunde Ogunbowale.
Dr. Ogunbowale stressed that leadership begins with personal growth. “When a woman learns to lead herself to manage her confidence, resources, and choices she gains the strength to lead her family, her business, and her community,” she said.
The training covered practical topics such as building self-confidence, setting achievable goals, money management using the “three pots rule” (business, family, savings), entrepreneurship tips for turning small ventures into sustainable businesses, and conflict resolution and customer care for growth.
Participants were guided to reflect on three key questions: Who am I serving? What problem am I solving? How will I make money?
At the end of the program, participants pledged to apply at least one new strategy to grow their businesses. One vegetable seller remarked: “I have been selling vegetables for years, but I never thought of saving in separate pots. This training has opened my eyes.”
Dr. Ogunbowale noted that the initiative is part of White Gold Initiative’s broader mission to equip grassroots women with practical skills that enhance livelihoods, strengthen families, and promote community resilience. “Such trainings are very needful and impactful for the economic growth and development of women at the rural level and even on a much wider scale,” she added.
