WADHI, USAfrica Trade and Business Network, ACCI, and other partners collectively launched the MSME Retail Incubation Program in the Westfield Garden State Plaza, Newark, New Jersey, USA in April, 2023.
The Incubation Program seeks to take forward outcomes of the USAfrica 67CSW Business Expo, and expand market access opportunities for local MSMEs as well as provide the opportunity to showcase their goods and services in one of the major shopping destinations in the tri-state area.
Local products that were onboarded during the event include: agribusiness, consumer packaged goods, cosmetics, arts and crafts, and textiles and apparels.
The Incubation Scheme remains open, and interested business owners are advised to the Organization for further enquiries.
Building on the successes of the high-level roundtable dialogue on Expanding Gender-Responsive Investment Initiatives for Economic Sustainability held in the Nigerian Permanent Mission House, New York, on the 20th of June, 2022, USAfrica Trade & Business Network and it’s expo planning committee extended an invitation to WADHI and our network of WMSMEs to the 4th Edition of the USAfrica Business Expo Week.
The Expo held physically and virtually from 12th-22nd September, 2022, at the U.N. Headquarters, New York City. With the theme: Facilitating Export-Import Opportunity for US-Africa MSMEs for Sustainable Development Under the margins of the 77UNGA, the event provided a platform for off-takers and investors to connect with indigenous businesses looking to sell into retail stores and e-commerce platforms in the United States. It also sought to ensure maximum participation of MSMEs groups, Women’s networks, Governments, Agencies, Businesses, and organizations.
Key Expo activities included: AFCTA: Unlocking Africa’s Potential in The Post Covid-19 Era, Doing Business in Africa Country Spotlight Series, One-on-One International Business Consulting for MSMEs, US Trade & Investment Policies in Africa (AGOA and Prosper Africa), a physical/virtual side exhibition, and a visit to the New Jersey State Mall.
Sights from the USAfrica Trade Business Expo- 12th-22nd September, 2022
The Global Action Network on Forced Displacement brings together people and organizations engaged in action for and with displaced women in all their diversity: decision-makers from the spheres of politics, the private sector and society, and activists who implement projects on the ground. The Network facilitates a direct exchange on the situation of displaced women in various regions of the world, develops specific recommendations for policymakers as well as local and global stakeholders and voices their interests on an international stage.
Mme. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia our Founder and CEO was invited to be a part of the Network and attend it’s annual meeting in Berlin, Germany in September, 2022.
The meeting served as a platform for discourse, networking, and engagement with parliament on strategies to improve care of women and vulnerable groups that have been marginalized and forcibly displaced.
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS- PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION OF ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA AS NIGERIA’S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) COMMITTEE
Today marks another giant stride in our mission for positive visibility at the global level. On a happy note, I want to announce the victory of the Nigerian Candidate to the UN CEDAW Committee, Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia during the election of new members at the twenty-second Meeting of States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 June 2022.
Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia is one of the twelve (12) members elected by States parties of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to replace those whose terms of office are due to expire on 31 December 2022. The terms of members elected will commence on 1 January 2023 and expire four years later on 31 December 2026.
This is indeed one of the legacy of this administration in supporting Nigerian Women to occupy visible leadership positions at the International space.
Therefore my profound gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his unwavering support to the entire process. This mandate would not have been achieved without the unflinching support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada and their dynamic Team both at Home and in the Mission in New York for the high level networking in delivering on this vision. The role played by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the Honourable Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, H.E. Hajiya Mariam Katagum and their Team in mounting a benefiting Made in Nigeria Exhibition is commendable. I want to single out for mention the untiring support of H.E. Excellency, the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Prof. Tijjani Bande and his Team, who left no stone unturned to ensure that the Nation’s colours stood out throughout the entire process.
I must also thank and congratulate the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, FNSE and the Management and Staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for the hard work put in to ensure the victory of our Candidate. Not forgetting to mention the role of the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Olukayode Pitan and the Director-General of Abuja Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Dr. Victoria Akai for the great support in the realization of this mandate. My sincere appreciation to all the Countries who believed in the Nigerian candidature and so voted.
The exception role of UN Women and the Civil Societies in this regard is unprecedented. Gratitude to Bishop Tina Bawa of the Ministerial Technical Committee on Private Sector Initiatives, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi of WARD-C, Toun Sonaiya of Women Radio and several others too numerous to mention.
I have no doubt that Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia will do us proud in the journey ahead. We must therefore rise above our differences to ensure that succeeds in flying the Nigeria colours high.
Congratulations to Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia! Congratulations to Nigerian Women! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Congratulations to Africa!
Signed Dame Pauline K. Tallen, OFR, KSG Honourable Minister Federal Ministry of Women Affairs 23 June 2022.
As a follow-up to activities in preparation for the Global Gender Investment Summit under the WADHI/EEFP Multi-Stakeholder Gender and Economic Growth Series, a high level roundtable dialogue on Expanding Gender Responsive Investment Initiatives for Economic Sustainability was held in the Nigerian Permanent Mission House, New York on the 20th of June, 2022.
In attendance virtually and in-person were participants drawn from the city of New York, Asia, the Nigerian Permanent Mission NY, CEDAW State Parties, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and various women groups.
The event was accompanied by a side exhibition within the Permanent Mission and was held to facilitate engagement with ministries and key partners in the economic empowerment drive for Nigerian and African women. The aim was to demonstrate affordable indigenous products, commodities, and innovation (including the Kowgo Application supported by the Herbert H. Humphrey Alumni Grant and the resulting Arahah market) realized through multi-sectoral initiatives.
The Roundtable also sought to explore business partnership opportunities that could leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) to boost manufacturing, agriculture, technology, ecommerce, trade and export hereby, fulfilling the aspirations of the Buenos Aires Declaration of 2017.
