The United State (US) Government has kicked start the application process for the 2021 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).
The US Consulate General in Lagos on Tuesday has directed female entrepreneurs interested in participating in the AWE program to apply at no cost by filling out the application form via https://bit.ly/applyawe2021
According to the statement released by the US Consulate, “200 participants will be selected from the 17 states of southern Nigeria for the 2021 cohort. To support the comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration of returned migrants, 50 female returnees will also take part in the program.”
Also, “as part of the highly competitive entrepreneurship program, participants who graduate from the AWE gain automatic membership to the US government exchange alumni community, providing access to a vast network of like-minded and highly regarded professionals across the country.”
“Leading local business leaders will help facilitate the intensive program scheduled to run from July to September 2021. In addition, participants will receive access to DreamBuilder, a blended business training course developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan.”
Commenting on the significance of the programme to the women and nation at large, the U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli, said:
“Women have a key role to play in Nigeria’s future prosperity. As we have seen time and time again, when women do better, countries do better, communities do better, and families do better.”
In the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer of Ascend Studios Foundation, Ms. Inya Lawal, said “We are delighted that the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has partnered with us to implement this program, the largest yet. AWE is a transformative initiative that is helping women in Nigeria build and sustain their businesses; the opportunities that come from this program are immense.”
The application portal is now open and will close on July 15, 2021.