Women in Africa (WIA), the world’s leading international platform for the economic development and the support of African women entrepreneurs launched the 6th edition of its flagship programme WIA54 on March 1, 2022. Women entrepreneurs from Mauritius can now apply for an intensive programme that will boost their businesses and confidence by 31 May 2022.
First launched in 2017, the programme promotes women entrepreneurs in Africa who are at the early stages of running a business. For 2022, 540 finalists from 54 African countries will be selected to participate in the bootcamp training and personalized mentoring programme and will become part of the WIA community. The best candidates at the end of the mentoring/pitch training phase will participate in the pitching phase which will give them access to investors and “seed capital”.
From this strengthened pool of entrepreneurs, the jurors will select the 54 country laureates and 9 sectoral prize laureates who will receive a comprehensive package of support to further boost their success. This time round, 54 laureates will have the opportunity to join an MBA programme of our partner Honoris United Universities and will also benefit from a communication highlight worth €5,000 on WIA social networks; 8 Revelations will benefit from a communication promotion worth €8,000 and the Gold Award will also receive a prize of €10,000.
Through its WIA54 programme, WIA is committed to supporting 10,000 African women entrepreneurs by 2030 through training, mentoring, communication and access to finance. Its goal is to contribute to the creation of 100,000 jobs and to contribute to the generation of $10 billion in revenue for the African economy by 2030. Women entrepreneurs in Mauritius are invited to present their company and strategy on the form on WIA’s website here: WIA54 – WIA Initiative (wia-initiative.com)
Last year, Mauritius saw 15 finalists, they were: Sita Jeeneea-Saminaden, Sanjana Jhumun, Nirusha Keerpaul-Toocaram, Sonya Mohadeb, Hethal Mohun, Madvee Muthu, Zaahirah Muthy, Lutchmee Nobaub, Diane Nuteau, Mokshda Pertaub, Tanvi Ramtohul, Davina Sawoky-Gowardun, Tej Soodaye, Poulavi Sornum and Sharanaz Subratty. These women entrepreneurs were recognised for their pioneering initiatives under WIA 54. The winners were Hethal Mohun, CEO and Co-founder of Tamarind Leaf Yoga was announced as the Country Laureate for Mauritius and Lutchmee Nobaub, who was announced as the African Revelation for Health.
Highlighting how this unique initiative can help women entrepreneurs in the island economy, Samantha Seewoosurrun, WIA Ambassador for Mauritius and Seychelles, said: “The WIA 54 programme just became bigger and better. In a 10-fold increase over last year, we now have 540 women entrepreneurs who can avail of practical training and support in key areas such as digital marketing, personal branding, effective pitching, as well as building the right financial strategy and an effective business model, apart from taking advantage of exceptional networking opportunities with like-minded women in Africa.”
“Women entrepreneurs from start-ups in Mauritius who are seeking to introduce innovations in the new normal are strongly encouraged to apply for this outstanding initiative which brings such unparalleled opportunities in its wake,” she added.
The WIA Programme is organised through WIA’s Endowment Fund, WIA Philantropy. WIA Philantropy’s patrons are Société Générale, Roland Berger, Orange, Stop Hunger, AXA, Inetum, Meridiam, Honoris United Universities, DS Avocats, and Total Foundation.
Further information is available in the form of an instruction leaflet, FAQs and video.
