In line with its objective aim of connecting the next billion people to relevant information and the internet, Nokia, in partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and MTN Nigeria, today announced a new Nokia Life service that will provide essential business and entrepreneurship tips to women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The service, Business Women, will be the latest addition to the Nokia Life service portfolio.

Often times, women entrepreneurs are faced with significant barriers to scaling up their businesses, including access to affordable resources, marketing channels and training inputs. The Business Women service aims to address this imbalance, by providing essential business and entrepreneurship tips, delivered via SMS to mobile phones with the Nokia Life service.

In a research conducted by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, supported by the ExxonMobil Foundation, showed that 93% of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria were willing to use a valued-added mobile service like Business Women to address the core challenges they face in their business; and 75% of them felt that addressing these challenges would lead to a significant increase in the value of their business.

In her address, Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, said “partnering with Nokia on the Business Women service is a ‘welcome development aimed at giving women the chance to become financially independent and make the most of their talents as a key to get a higher living standards for them and their families”. 

“With the extensive reach of Business Women through Nokia Life and content tailored especially for Nigerian women entrepreneurs, this new service has the potential to empower thousands of women business owners”, said Mrs. Blair.

Earlier in his opening address, Vice President of Nokia West Africa, James Rutherford, said, the company is delighted to partner with the Foundation to provide Nigerian women with the best information available to help grow their businesses.

He revealed that “working with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is a key milestone on our journey to connect the next billion people to relevant information. Nokia Life is by far the world’s largest mobile information services suite helping consumers in emerging markets learn, live, and share information better”.

According to the President and Chief Executive Officer, MTN Group, Sifiso Dabengwa disclosed the leading telecommunications provider will provide the service free of charge for an initial period of subscription to Nigerian women. “We are confident that MTN customers will enjoy the Business Women service, which has the potential to enrich many people’s lives”, he said. 

The Business Women Service event in Nigeria witnessed participation of Cherie Blair, United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, top female entrepreneurs, women’s associations and local students.

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women invests in women entrepreneurs to build and expand their businesses, and in doing so, benefit not only themselves but also their families and communities.

The collaboration of the three giants will sure give a lift to women entrepreneurs in the country, which will further enhance the standard of living across the nation.{jcomments on}