UK to support 30 Nigerian female GreenTech entrepreneurs

The UK Government, through its UK-Nigeria Tech Hub has launched a GreenTech programme to support 30 Nigerian female entrepreneurs.

The support it said would be a 12 weeks coaching session with industry experts.

Mr Ben Llewelyn-Jones, UK’s Deputy High Commissioner, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Llewelyn-Jones said the coaching sessions would seek to boost the capacity of the entrepreneurs.

He added that it would enable the enterprises to scale and become more sustainable businesses.

Llewelyn-Jones said the programme was targeted on Nigerian female entrepreneurs with early-stage businesses aimed at protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

“As the world looks to build back better from the COVID- 19 pandemic which has affected millions of lives and adversely affected economies, it is important to remember that we are still tackling an even greater crisis, climate change.

“The UK, as the host of the 2021 UN climate change summit, is working hard in advance of COP26 to increase the level of global ambitions, necessary to ensure that we are on track to limit global warming to below two degrees.

“The UK, as bilateral partner, is committed to supporting Nigeria in delivering an accelerated and just transition, not only to meet the climate imperative but to ensure the country is at the forefront of a shift in the global economy.

“Like the transition itself, this support is at all levels, from 200 million pounds flowing into major clean technology programmers through international climate finance to entrepreneurs, to designing and developing small and micro enterprise sustainable companies of the future,” he said.

Llewellyn-Jones said the programme would run virtually for three months and would cover 10 actionable modules that would take entrepreneurs through the fundamental building blocks.

Mr Lamide Johnson, Interim Country Director of UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, said climate change remained top priority for the UK government.

“We are pleased to have partnered future females to help and support GreenTech female business entrepreneurs in Nigeria, who are tirelessly working hard to promote the use of technology to solve problems caused by climate change and invariably promote a greener world.”

Miss Cerina Bezuidenhout, Co-Founder, Future Females, reinstated their commitment to supporting sustainable businesses.

“At Future Females, we have always been passionate about supporting sustainable businesses and we are very excited to be focusing on GreenTech businesses in our partnership with UK-Nigeria Tech Hub,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme will commence on May 24, while applications for participation will close on May 7.