Aneke Says Sound Business Management, Planning and Confidence Key to Improved Livelihoods
By : Chioma Vivian James
The President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs. Maria Aneke, has urged women to harness the knowledge and skills acquired through training to build sustainable businesses, improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to community development.
Aneke stressed the importance of effective planning, sound business management and personal confidence in enabling women to identify and pursue opportunities capable of transforming their economic circumstances.
Speaking during a capacity-building programme for women, the NAFOWA President noted that the strength and progress of any community were closely linked to the capacity, creativity and productivity of its people.
According to her, empowering women with the right knowledge, practical skills and opportunities to develop their abilities does not only benefit individuals and families, but also creates wider economic and social value for communities.
She encouraged the participants to take the training seriously by listening attentively, asking questions and, most importantly, relating the lessons to their individual experiences, businesses and aspirations.
Aneke urged women who were already engaged in business to critically examine their operations and identify areas where they could introduce improvements, increase efficiency and achieve better results.
“If you already have a business, start to think about what you can do differently to improve it from today,” she said.
She similarly challenged women with existing skills to consider ways of developing and expanding those skills, while encouraging those with business ideas they had previously postponed to use the training as an opportunity to gain the knowledge and confidence required to take action.
“If you have a skill, think about how you can develop it further. If you have an idea that you have been putting off, perhaps this training will provide the knowledge and confidence needed to take the next step,” she added.
The NAFOWA President emphasised that empowerment goes beyond providing temporary assistance, stressing that sustainable impact is achieved when people are equipped with the capacity to create opportunities for themselves and others.
She therefore encouraged the participants to approach the programme with an open mind and a determination to translate the knowledge gained into practical action.
Aneke maintained that women possess enormous potential to drive enterprise, innovation and community development when given the appropriate support and opportunities.
She urged the participants to see the training not merely as an event, but as a stepping stone towards building stronger livelihoods, expanding their businesses and contributing to the economic wellbeing of their families and communities.
