National Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE)

The Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs is a nongovernmental non-political (NGO) Association, inaugurated under the auspices of the National Commission for Women.

The significant role That women play In Africa's economic development began to get attention in the early 1979s. An African Training and Research  Centre for Women was established in the Office of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Comrnission for Africa (UNECA) as the regional focal point for Women in developrnent in l975. This coincidedwiththeUnitedNation's 'declaration of 1975 - 1985 as the Decade for Women. The Declaration directed member Nations to pursue vigorously the integration of Women in all facets of human endeavour. Just before the close of the decade a meeting was held at   Arusha, Tanzania under the auspices of the OAU. The .Arusha meeting examined issues pertaining to Women advancement beyond the decade. In 1985, a 3rd World inference for Women was held in Nairobi Kenya. At that meting "Forward Looking Sfttegies" for the advancement  of women were adopted by UnitedNation's member Nations. On the African Continent, this was followed by another conference in Abuia in 1989 under the auspices of Economic for Africa (ECA). The outcome of the meeting was tagged "Abuja Declaration on Participatory Development of women" was adopted by Member African States. The declaration advocates that Women be integrated and be allowed to participate in Development Programmes.

In response to the recommendations of both the Nairobi "Forward Looking Strategies" and the Abuja Declaration on   participatory Role of Women in Development", the Economic commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of Ministers on Women adopted Resolution 736 (xxvii) pass to it by the African Regional Co-ordinating Committee. In adopting the resolution which is "Women and their access to resourcesinthel990s!',the ECA Conferences of Ministers requested the United Nation's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to facilitate the creation of a Federation of African Women Entrepreneurs. The African Training and Research Centre for Women, which is in the office of the Executive Secretary of the United Nation's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) put in place the machinery for the formation of the Federation of African Women Entrepreneurs (FAWE) which is to enhance the promotion of the economic activities of Women from that of mere income generation to the formal econon-dc sector where women will make substantial contribution to National taxes  and offer employment and other support services. This is to say, that the full potentials and energies of African Women can be harnessed and channelled towards National Developmental goals of their various Countries through Trade, Commerce and Manufacturing.
To facilitate the formation of the Federation of African Women Entrepreneurs, Member Nations of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) were directed to form strong National Associations of Women Entrepreneurs. This body will at the National level prornoteentrepreneurial activitiesof Women and strive to transform it from the informal to the formal sector of the Nation's economy. The National Associations of Member States will now come together to form a Federation of African Women Entrepreneurs.
Nigeria, through the National commission for Women which is the Goveriament's organ responsible for the Integration of Women into National Developmental activities, was saddled with the responsibility of forming tne Nigerian Association of Wonwn Entrepreneurs. The National Commission for Women wasted no time and left no stone untumed and their effort saw the inauguration of the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE) on the 28th April 1993.
On the 3rd June, 1993, the Nigeria Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE participated in the inaugural meeting of the Federation of African Women Entrepreneurs (FAWE) where Nigeria was elected the President for a two year renewable term

OBJECTIVES OF ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENNEURS

The Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE) is an Economic, Government initiated Organisation with the following objectives:-

FUNCTIONS OF THE NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

MEMBERSHIP AND STATUTES OF NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.