The Gloryhill Women Empowerment Foundation (GWEF), a non-profit organization committed to uplifting underprivileged women, hosted its inaugural Northern Women Entrepreneurship Conference on Saturday.

The event, held at the University for Development Studies, saw over 1,000 women equipped with essential tools and knowledge for financial independence.

Organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Department of Politics and Governance, the Center for Gender and Career Mentorship, and Wocom UDS Tamale Campus, the conference was themed “Empowering Women to be Financially Independent.” Key speakers included Mr. Charles Atia, CEO of B-Diet Limited, Ing. Prof. Linda Dari, Associate Professor of Food and Post Harvest Engineering at UDS, Madam Neo Thamae Gariba, a retired Development Consultant, and Dr. Naazia Ibrahim, a Lecturer at UDS.

Mrs. Gloria Abiwu, CEO of Gloryhill Women Empowerment Foundation, noted in an interview the critical financial burdens carried by many women who lack economic empowerment. She emphasized that empowering women not only benefits them but also helps raise responsible children, thereby strengthening society.

In addition to financial empowerment, the conference addressed mental health issues, with particular focus on supporting widows through special packages in honor of the upcoming 2024 Mother’s Day. Mrs. Abiwu also noted that less privileged women attending the conference would receive vocational training to help them start their own businesses. She appealed to corporate entities in Ghana to support the foundation’s mission to economically empower women in the Northern region.

Madam Vivian Boateng, CEO of Vivi’s Dance and Theater Academy, encouraged women to identify their talents and turn their passions into profitable ventures, urging men to support women’s empowerment initiatives. Dr. Susana Annan, a psychiatrist, discussed mental health, focusing on depression, its causes, and symptoms

CREDIT: Abubakari Sadiq Righteous