Canon Central and North Africa has partnered with Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) to launch the Women Who Empower Women campaign across Nigeria.
The initiative aims to empower and empower women in the imaging and printing industry by offering workshops, networking events and mentorship programs with Canon representatives and industry professionals.
International Women’s Day, which takes place annually on March 8, this year’s theme was ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’. Other slogans included ‘Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment’.
WISCAR was founded in 2008, inspired by “a keenly felt social need,” according to its website. During her long career, Founder and Chairman Amina Oyagbola “continually recognized a gaping need for an institutional framework that would provide professional women with inspiration, motivation, guidance and support to help them better navigate their various career paths.”
According to ActionAid Nigeria, women in Nigeria make up 70% of the country’s extreme poor. However, they only make up 49.3% of the general population.
The gender gap in economic participation and opportunity “remains a major problem”, ActionAid said.
Only 56% of women are in the workforce, compared to 80% of men, and women earn 45% less than men in comparable positions.
ABOVE: Canon celebrates the first phase of Women Who Empower
The opportunity to become self-employed is often considered an important stepping stone to economic empowerment, and women represent only 41% of businesses, which are often smaller in size than men. Self-employed women also face challenges in accessing educational, financial and marketing opportunities.
The Women Who Empower Women campaign was launched on May 15 with a series of workshops in print, photography and content creation, including both theory and practical sessions. Classes include technical instruction, fundamental theory and a month of guided hands-on practice with Canon equipment.
The content creation course is taught by renowned Nigerian cinematographer Daniel Ehimen, and the photography and printing courses are taught by Emmanuel Oyeleke, a renowned lifestyle photographer in Nigeria and Canon Ambassador.
All resources are provided by Canon and all participants receive certificates and valuable feedback.
“WISCAR is excited to partner with Canon to empower women in the imaging and printing industry,” said Oyagbola.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to providing women with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in their professional endeavors. Together, we will pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society in Nigeria.”
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