Lukman Abdulmalik
The United States Government Exchange Alumni Association of Nigeria (USGEAAN), Kano Chapter, organized a one-day capacity-building workshop to equip female entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria (Arewa) with essential digital skills aimed at boosting their business growth and visibility.
Held in Kano on Saturday, the workshop focused on the use of digital marketing tools and strategies to expand customer reach, drive business growth, and promote economic empowerment among women entrepreneurs.
In his remarks, Professor Abdulmalik from the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano, welcomed the participants and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained practically.
“We had 140 applicants and selected 44 participants, all residents of Kano,” he said.
“Smartphones today are vital tools for business visibility, and I urge you all to maximize their potential.”
Program Officer, Prof. Moses T. Aluaigba explained that each Nigerian state has a USGEAAN chapter and emphasized the initiative’s goal of empowering women through digital entrepreneurship.
“This is the second phase of the training program.
“The first phase was held in 2023 with 20 participants. We plan to conduct post-workshop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to assess participants’ progress,” he said.
One of the facilitators, Muhammad Bello Yahaya, led a session on “Techniques of Using Social Media to Enhance Product Visibility.”
He noted that social media platforms now boast over 8 billion global users and highlighted their impact on brand awareness, lead generation, customer engagement, and cost-effective advertising.
“Effective social media marketing involves content creation, publishing, audience engagement, and using both organic and paid advertising.
“Winning strategies include understanding your audience, posting consistently, collaborating with influencers, using hashtags, and tracking performance.
“Tools like Canva and Adobe Express can enhance content quality,” he said
Another facilitator, Maryam Abbas Abdulkadir, guided participants on social media best practices and sales promotion through product advertising.
She emphasized the importance of market segmentation and local relevance.
“Understanding your audience saves time, money, and effort.
“Use Hausa captions, tie your products to local events and seasons, and be authentic and consistent.
“Social media is powerful, use it intentionally, ethically, and creatively,” she advised.
The climax of the workshop featured hands-on practical sessions, where participants were trained on creating engaging digital content using various social media platforms and design tools.
“The goal was to help them attract wider audiences and scale their businesses effectively.”
The USGEAAN Kano Chapter reiterated its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria through continued training and mentorship opportunities.
