Stanbic Bank empowers women
Pauline Dikuelo | Friday July 3, 2015 14:58
The initiative is the result of a renewed partnership between the bank and Women in Business Association (WIBA). Through the partnership, Stanbic donated P150, 000 to WIBA as prize money for the WIBA Businesswoman of the year awards over three consecutive years, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The 2015 inaugural awards scheduled for August 23, 2015, will see businesswomen walking away with a P50, 000.00 prize money as the overall winner of the WIBA excellence awards. Speaking at a handover ceremony, WIBA president Tumi Mbaakanyi said: ‘The Business Woman of the year’ accolade seeks to recognise the outstanding achievements of women led businesses across the country. “The awards aim to promote WIBA’ s mandate of developing women and also to reward WIBA members who have taken noteworthy initiatives their business goals,” she said.
According to Mbaakanyi, the awards aim to encourage competitive women-led businesses whose existence strives on excellence to fully penetrate, not only the local market, but regional and international markets too. She added that to ensure transparency, they have engaged Mazars Audit firm to ensure that everything is done professionally. Stanbic Bank head of marketing, Duduetsang Chappelle-Molloy applauded WIBA on their efforts to make it easy for women to do business in Botswana and beyond its borders.
“For us Stanbic bank, this is not only a donation towards the individual who wins this award, it is our pledge to the community and to providing the support and tools necessary for women in business to succeed,” she said.
Chappelle-Molloy said there is a need to celebrate the achievements of the many aspiring entrepreneurs.
This include mobilising and motivating female entrepreneurs to persevere and tap into their potential of being successful business entrepreneurs that add value to the national economy.
The ‘Business woman of the year award’ will be picked from the five award categories, which include, the innovation award, social entrepreneurs award, collaboration award, inspirational woman award and informal business award. WIBA was established in 1990 as a wing extension of Botswana Confederation Commerce and Industry (BOCCIM). It exists to facilitate the adoption of specific laws that encourage women entry into business and support sustainability of women-owned businesses.