60 women awarded entrepreneurship certificates

The School of Finance and Banking (SFB) in partnership with the Michigan University’s William Davidson Institute, Friday, awarded 60 women certificates after they completed a six-month entrepreneurship training program.The colourful ceremony which started with a mini-expo of the graduates’ products that were showcased, included the rewarding of $1000 each to five women who presented the best business plans during the course.The entrepreneurship certificate program is one of the initiatives supported by Goldman Sachs (GS), a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm with an agenda of instilling 10,000 women entrepreneurs around the globe with entrepreneurial skills.Speaking to the Sunday Times, Immaculate Mukamusoni, one of the graduates, said since she underwent the training, the knowledge she attained has enhanced her brick making business. She owns Rwanda Bricks Ltd.“My business was in chaos before this training but now I know how to communicate with my clients and how to account the revenues,” said Mukamusoni, adding that she hopes to start a cottage industry soon.“It has enabled me to become a professional entrepreneur and I am going to use my expertise to expand my business,” she said.Speaking at the event, Dr Reid Whitlock, SFB Rector, said the training helps women get more focused on what they do and thereby exploiting their entrepreneurship skills.“There has been much enthusiasm in these women to complete such training, and the skills will be added to what they already had,” Dr. Whitlock said.Julienne Munyaneza, the Permanent Secretary at the Gender and Family Promotion Ministry, requested the graduates to implement what they have attained in the training in their daily business activities.She added that the government is committed to developing Small and Medium Enterprises as the key to create jobs, increase exports, and reduce poverty.“Seeing such women pursuing this training reflects how much women have stood up to engage in developing the country’s economy,” Munyaneza said.Sharolyn Arnett, Program Manager William Davidson Institute, said that the training aimed at empowering women economically by giving them skills.So far, 210 Rwandan women entrepreneurs have benefited from the Goldman Sachs program since its launch in Rwanda in 2008.