NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE EXTENDS ITS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AGENDA THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAININGS

A cross section of participants during the NBC sponsored women entrepreneurs conference in Dar es Salaam.

Women entrepreneurs have been advised to pull up their resources and mobilize themselves into manageable business groups, the mobilization will surely enable them to enjoy advantages of collective production and access banking products tailored for groups.

The call was made by NBC Manager of Retail Liability products, Ms. Dorothea Mabonye, during a conference organized for women entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam by regional barcode commodities traceability systems service providers GS1 Tanzania and bankrolled by the bank.

During her interview Ms. Mabonye said, the bank sponsored the conference on a two-tier goal, first to empower women in business by ensuring they are mobilized in their respective groups and on the hand to equip them with necessary business skills before offering them a suitable bank product that will catalyze their sustainable business growth.

“NBC banks on its experienced bankers who understand that mobilization of business schemes and ventures is crucial for micro enterprises, if at all their entrepreneurship efforts are to thrive and unleashing its intended potentials,” said Ms Mabonye.

The banker’s views were seconded by a participant, Rosemary Mugarula, “The training has enlightened us on the need to unite if we are to run projects sustainably, we have now realized it is easier to move forward as a group”, she said, “I call upon women to mobilize themselves in productive units and tap into many opportunities that exists in the unity.”

Speaking at the event, which was attended by over 500 women, NBC Brand and Communications Manager, David Raymond, said the bank has a wide range of affordable and easy-to-use products, from those tailored to serve productive groups to those that are suitable for women in general.

Said Raymond: “We have Imara Account which is tailor made for a. Tanzanian woman and it can be opened in minutes with a minimum deposit of ten thousand shillings. The account is suitable for women and it facilitates them to save towards reaching their various goals. Our NBC Kikundi Account is a special product for groups and offers safe custody of groups deposits.”

Board Chairman of GS1 Tanzania, Jumbe Menye said while the role of GS1 is to mobilize businesses to use barcodes, they have keen interest on women entrepreneurs. “Women form a bulk of valuable players in small enterprises, so we can easily reach out to them if they are organized in groups,” said Menye.