By Naomi Uzor
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA, and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday, said plans are on to collaborate with female members of the LCCI to reach out to women entrepreneurs in boosting grassroots development in Nigeria.

Chairperson of the Women Group of the LCCI, Mrs. Adenike Shobajo, disclosed that the event has been slated for on 14th of August and that the Chief representative of JICA, Mr. Tetsuo Seki, who will be featuring as guest speaker at the business forum, with the theme: “Gender Mainstreaming in Private Sector Development.”, is expected to focus his presentation on how JICA could collaborate with female members of the LCCI to reach out to women entrepreneurs in boosting grassroots development in Nigeria.

and on how to foster bilateral relations between Nigerian women and their counterparts in Japan to boost cooperation through finance and investment, technical knowhow, loans, grants and aids.

She noted that JICA has for many years been at the forefront of promoting cooperation on development issues between Nigeria and Japan, especially on poverty eradication and business development and the forum will also explore ways of empowering women and how to exploit international linkages to promote entrepreneurship among women in Nigeria.

It will review the activities of the group in coordinating the activities of women members of the LCCI toward promoting and boosting business ideas for aspiring entrepreneurs at local and international levels.

“Many outstanding female entrepreneurs in Nigeria are expected to grace the one-day event, which is expected to attract captains of industry.

”The Women Group of the LCCI is charged with responsibility of coordinating the activities of female members of the body in the promotion of their businesses and key projects of the LCCI.

”The group also arranges programmes, geared towards promoting women empowerment. It also networks with women organizations at the state, federal and international levels” she disclosed.