Women business get a boost By Patience Ogbo At a time when women are fast becoming a force to be reckon with politically in the country,their counterparts in the business sector likewise are getting the supports they need to grow their businesses. The support this time is coming from global phone manufacturer Nokia in partnership with MTN and the Cherie Blair foundation for Women. At the event held at the Civic Centre on August 23,Nokia lauched its service for women the New Nokia Life Service "Business Women" which according to Nokia will boost women businesses in Nigeria by providing them with affordable business tips and relevant information via sms subcriptions. Nokia said its aim is to connect Nigeria business women to opportunities that will improve their busineses. "women entrepreneurs are faced with significant barriers to scaling their businesses including access to affordable resources,marketing channels and training outputs;the business women aims to address this imbalance"said James Rutherford,vice president Nokia West Africa. Cherie Blair ,the Wife of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair was also at the event. Mrs Blair stated that her foundation with support from the ExxonMobil foundation conducted a research in Nigeria where it was discovered that "93 percent of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria,were willing to use a value added mobile service like Business women to address core challanges they face in their businesses while 75percent of them felt that addressing these challanges would led to a significant increase in the value of their business" Mrs Blair added "Giving women the chance to become financially independent and make the most of their talents is the key to higher living standards for them and their families". Mr Rutherford, added that Business Women service will also benefit local business women who cannot read nor write as a special subcription will enable them get the service in venacular."Most of business women in Nigeria are literate and we are focusing on them so that they can inform others but we also intend to make this service available in local languages so that those women who cannot read nor write can benefit"Mr Rutherford said. Sifiso Dabengwa,the President and Chief Executive Officer, MTN Group, said,MTN Nigeria, will provide free of charge service for an initial six-month subscription period for subcribers to the Business Women package. The event was also spiced with jokes and comments from former talkshow broadcaster, Funmi Iyanda. While Olusola Lanre CEO, Impression Management Consulting, and, Toyosi Akerele the CEO, Rise Networks as guest speakers at the event urged women to break the yoke of poverty and all forms of limitation by embracing information that will transform their lives.