The Pan-African Women’s Empowerment Network(PAWEN) has announced the successful completion of its first edition of the Girlpreneur Africa Program (GAP), which is
an innovative entrepreneurship development initiative designed to empower 450 female university students from 19 countries, a statement by the group said.

The programme’s primary goal is to nurture a new generation of value creators and solution providers, who will build sustainable and profitable businesses and tackle the pressing issue of youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa, the statement forwarded to Economy Post, said.

Girlpreneur Africa Program is an initiative of PAWEN designed to address youth unemployment in Africa, particularly among women. With the unemployment rates in sub-Saharan Africa, and women’s rates even higher than men’s, the programme aims to equip young female final-year students in universities across Africa, with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to succeed as entrepreneurs.

READ ALSO: How tough environment sent over 100 Nigerian factories out of business

“For over six months, participants engaged in a rigorous virtual bootcamp that combined
academic learning with practical, hands-on training. The program was divided into two phases: Phase 1 (12 weeks) where the participants received intensive entrepreneurial education, mentoring from successful student entrepreneurs, and coaching from experienced business owners,” the statement said.

This phase focused on helping participants refine their business plans and models.
For Phase 2, the top 8 finalists were selected for the final business pitch competition, presenting their ideas to a panel of judges which included important business leaders,” the statement said.