The Asaba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA) has successfully hosted its maiden exhibition and sensitization programme, designed to empower women with the knowledge and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s digital and entrepreneurial economy.
The one-day event, tagged “Female Entrepreneurs Summit 2025” with the theme “Leveraging Digitization in Advancing BMOs and SMEs Operations”, brought together women entrepreneurs, market leaders, and resource persons for training, exhibitions, and practical demonstrations.
Declaring the summit open, the 16th President of ASACCIMA, Hon. Chinwe Monu-Oduah, described the programme as a strategic step toward bridging the gap between women and modern business practices.
She noted that in a technology-driven world, many women are still left behind and emphasized the importance of adopting innovative methods of income generation beyond traditional market structures.
“This exhibition is to show our women that they don’t need to own a shop before they start selling. With technology, they can sit at home and earn money. Even in farming, you don’t need large hectares of land before you can be productive,” Monu-Oduah said.
She disclosed that participants benefitted from lectures delivered by resource persons, including a farmer who demonstrated how small spaces can be converted into productive farms, and an accountant who emphasized the importance of savings and reinvestment rather than frivolous spending.
The exhibition featured women from Obogonogo and Ughelli markets, among others, who showcased their products at no cost.
Monu-Oduah explained that the decision to waive registration and table fees was to encourage participation and provide women with an inclusive platform to learn and display their skills.
She further assured participants that the sensitization would be followed by empowerment initiatives.
According to her, the Delta State Governor had recently approved a ₦1 billion fund for the Chamber during the commissioning of its new secretariat.
The fund, to be accessed through the Bank of Industry, would be disbursed strictly to trained and prepared beneficiaries.
Also speaking at the summit, the CEO of Working Fingers Investment Ltd, Amb. Eris Jewo-Ibi, commended the initiative as a bold move to build the capacity of women and empower them to overcome poverty.
She urged business owners to embrace digitization by leveraging social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram to expand their reach and promote their businesses.
The event featured practical hands-on training sessions, including homestead farming, soap making and packaging, confectionery production (dough mixing, snacks, and cake preparation), as well as networking and business information sharing
