WOMEN AND ‘WINE’ Women in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is a spirit, leadership is its soul while the society is its body. Without the spirit, the body is dead. Without ‘women’ (working men) and ‘wine’ (women in entrepreneurship), the society will be lifeless and the economy will be stagnated. Entrepreneurs are visionary innovators who transform the economy and modernize the society.

I join the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day which was widely celebrated on March 8th under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” I recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women to the nation’s growth and especially in Africa as a continent. From visionary leadership to unwavering dedication, women have been instrumental in driving positive change and shaping the future of institutions, communities, organisations, nations and the continent as a whole. I celebrate the diversity of your Giftedness, Abilities and Skills (GAS). And together, we’ll continue to invest in women and ‘wine’, empower them to lead, and accelerate progress towards a more inclusive, equitable, and thriving world for all.

Empowered women are a force for good in the world. They lift up and support others, they break down barriers, and they make a difference in the lives of those around them. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the women who have inspired us, challenged us, and made the world a better place. By recognizing their accomplishments, we help empower future generations of women to follow in their footsteps.

Happy International Women’s Day to all the incredible women around the world! I celebrate your ‘SHAPE’ (Strengths, History Achievements, Pride and Education). I love you! My name is Niyi Kolade aka thinkUP… liberating souls and celebrating solutions.

Women had undergone a long way and are becoming increasingly visible and successful in all spheres and have shifted from kitchen to higher level of professional activities; taking creativity from indoors into industry and turning creative ideas into lucrative opportunities. Here’s to the bold, the brilliant, the unstoppable women around the globe! Here’s to breaking barriers, empowering each other, and inspiring a world of limitless possibilities.

Women entrepreneurs are fast becoming a force to reckon with in the business world and are not only involved in business for survival but to satisfy their inner urge of creativity and to prove their capabilities. Educated women are contributing to a great extent to the social transformation. They are positively impacting the business and political landscapes. They are also rapidly venturing into areas traditionally dominated by men.

Today’s women are taking more and more professional and technical degrees to meet up with market needs and are flourishing as designers, interior decorators, exporters, publishers, garment manufacturers and still exploring new avenues of economic participation. It is perhaps for these reasons that Government Bodies, NGO’s, Social Scientists, Researchers and International Agencies have started showing interest in the issues related to women and ‘wine’ (women in entrepreneurship).

Entrepreneurship is the driver of the economy. It is the cornerstone of a nation’s growth and greatness. Entrepreneurs are instrumental to the progress and prosperity of a nation through their activities which include Problem-solving, Innovation, Value-creation, Opportunity finding and Technology application (PIVOT).

Entrepreneurship has gained currency across the sphere and female – entrepreneurship has become an important module. Women in earlier years, after independence, were confined to entrepreneurship in traditional areas like food, fruits, vegetables, pickles, papads, tailoring, hosiery etc. However, often, Women entrepreneurs have branched out to several new areas like engineering, beauty parlours, jewellery, handicraft, electrical, electronics, chemical and other manufacturing. This shows that entrepreneurial base of women expanded from traditional 3Ps – Pickle, Powder and Papad to modem 3Es – Engineering, Electrical & Electronics and Energy.

In this dynamic world, women entrepreneurs are a significant part of the global expedition for sustained economic development and social progress. Due to the growing industrialization, urbanization, social legislation and along with the spread of higher education and awareness, the emergence of Women owned businesses are highly increasing in the economies of almost all countries.

Women must be ready to do the following if they are to practice entrepreneurship sustainably and make perpetual and lasting impact:

1. Explore the prospects of starting a new enterprise;
2. Undertake risks, introduction of new innovations;
3. Coordinate administration & control of business;
4. Provide effective leadership in all aspects of business; and
5. Compete with the competent – Prove their footage in the male dominated business arena, by overtaking possibilities and not merely undertaking responsibilities.

There are vast numbers of industries under small business sector where women are playing a major role. Such industries can be listed as under:

1. Agriculture and Allied industries – such as sericulture, horticulture, dairying and animal husbandry etc.
2. Home based industries – such as handicrafts, Agarbati, Candle making, bidi industry, hosiery, and textile, doll making, jewellery pottery, designing etc.
3. Outside home industries – such as electrical and electronics, food processing etc.

Women who have built a world-renowned brand through hard work and determination include: Oprah Winfrey (Entertainment), Arianna Huffington (Journalism & Publishing), Sara Blakely (Fashion), Lynda Resnick (Agriculture), Indra Nooyi (Food & Beverages), Janice Bryant Howroyd (Workforce), Rihanna (Beauty), to mention but a few.

The ripple effect of women’s success contributes directly to their local economy and touches lives across their community. When women entrepreneurs succeed, they’re more likely to invest back into their families and community – into education, nutrition, wellbeing, and children’s health.

Women are generally perceived to be compassionate and passionate. They are thoughtful and considerate. Thoughtful people when empowered touch lives. Women entrepreneurship can be a great tool to bring about social reforms. For instance, women who hold political offices can be instrumental to drafting and implementing policies that will trigger the development of entrepreneurship, foster innovation and engender access to opportunities among entrepreneurs.

The United Nations has designated the year 2024’s theme as ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ with a focus on addressing economic disempowerment, while the campaign theme for this year is ‘Inspire Inclusion.’ The United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 5 states thus: To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

Enjoy this musical piece about Woman and ‘Wine’ by a Nigerian artist, Simi –

Woman don suffer oh

Lowo everybody

Suffer suffer for world (amen)

Enjoy for heaven

Man no like woman

Woman no like woman

She no be like water (water, e no get enemy)

If woman never marry oh (then she no be woman)

If woman never carry omo (she no be woman)

If she no get man for side oh

Dem go dey push woman aside oh

And eventually oh

Dem go suffer suffer woman (dem go suffer suffer woman)

I never talk finish

I never talk finish

I never talk (woman, woman, woman, nobody be like woman)

I never talk finish

I never talk finish

I never talk (woman, woman, woman, nobody be like woman)

Na so so submission oh

Shey we get assignment?

Suffer suffer for world (amen)

Enjoy for heaven

But, you no pay attention oh

To the intimidation she dey face

No be like water (water, e no get enemy)

If woman get confidence oh (then she no be woman)

Woman get money, won “l’asewo ni” (she no be woman)

If she no get man for side oh

Dem go dey push woman aside oh

And eventually oh

Dem go suffer suffer woman

I never talk finish

I never talk finish

I never talk (woman, woman, woman, nobody be like woman)

I never talk finish

I never talk finish

I never talk (woman, woman, woman, nobody be like woman).