US Govt Selects 250 Nigerian Women

US govt selects 250 Nigerian women for business training

The United States government has selected 250 Nigerian female entrepreneurs for a three-month business training through its initiative Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US Consulate in Nigeria said the 250 women were selected from a pool of over 15,700 applicants.

The US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon, said the AWE was designed to empower female entrepreneurs to realize their economic potential, thereby creating conditions for increased stability, security, and prosperity.

She said: “AWE is a US government initiative that supports women entrepreneurs around the world as part of the continuing commitment to supporting women to break barriers, gain economic and financial independence and create pathways to prosperity.

“When women are economically empowered, they re-invest in their families and communities, strengthening the social fabric of society and education and skill levels of the workforce. This multiplier effect spurs economic growth and enhances stability.”

Kathleen FitzGibbon is the Deputy Chief of Mission in Nigeria.  She arrived in June 2019.  In this capacity, she assists the Ambassador in leading the U.S. Mission’s nearly 1,200 American and Nigerian employees in Abuja and Lagos to advance U.S. strategic goals in security cooperation, democracy and governance, economic growth and trade, and development and humanitarian assistance, among other areas.  She is the recipient of the State Department’s James A. Baker III Award for Outstanding Deputy Chief of Mission.