By Modupe Gbadeyanka
For supporting and empowering Nigerian women through its Queen Riders Program, Simba TVS has won the African Brand of the Year 2023 at the Future Women Conference held in Lagos.
The mobility solutions provider in Nigeria put in place the Queen Riders program to empower underrepresented women in the nation’s burgeoning commercial transportation industry.
While receiving the award, the Business Head of Simba TVS, Mr Mahendra Pratap, highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment in the growth and development of every society.
According to him, the Queen Riders Program is built on four pillars of Opportunity, Development, Empowerment, and Independence and has successfully enriched the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of women across different parts of the country.
“Through the Queen Riders program, Simba TVS provides training for women on vehicle riding and repairs, mentorship, and access to financing. The program has seen women who were once marginalized and excluded from the formal economy become entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities,” Mr Pratap said.
He revealed that Simba’s stance on women empowerment has also contributed to the organisation setting up a dedicated motorcycle conveyor line for female assemblers in their Lagos factory to provide women with employment opportunities, adding that the line is manned exclusively by women.
“We believe that by empowering women, we are not only transforming their lives but also contributing to the growth and development of Nigeria, ensuring that women have the confidence, skills, and support they need to succeed in whatever they choose to do,” Mr Pratap stated.
The 2023 Future Women Conference 2023, organised by the Women in Africa for Transformation Initiative, was attended by several personalities, including the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Mrs Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, who commended Simba TVS for introducing the Queen Rider Program which she acknowledged had impacted positively in transforming the lives of women.
