COPEDU Plc trains women entrepreneurs to embrace digital finance #rwanda #RwOT

The event brought together women in business, COPEDU Plc clients, and the institution's leadership to exchange ideas on improving collaboration and maximizing opportunities designed specifically for women within COPEDU's financial services.

Among the participants was Mediatrice Niwemutoni, who shared her personal journey of growth through COPEDU's support.

She began with a group loan of Frw 200,000 while running a small potato business. With time, she advanced to an individual loan of Frw 2.4 million and expanded her business. Today, she is a distributor for Bralirwa's non-alcoholic beverages, managing a business worth over Frw 100 million.

Niwemutoni encouraged other women to pursue their goals with courage and commitment, noting that success stems from dedication and a strong work ethic.

The Managing Director of COPEDU Plc, Raissa Muyango, explained that the training aimed to help women scale their businesses by easing access to credit and promoting the use of digital platforms.

She highlighted Igire Mugore, a loan product designed for women entrepreneurs, which offers financing from Frw 500,000 up to Frw 5 million. The initiative targets women who face challenges in securing traditional collateral for loans.

Muyango also emphasized that such events are valuable opportunities for two-way dialogue, enabling the institution to listen to clients, respond to their needs, and improve service delivery.

Also speaking at the event was Herve Christian Gombaniro, a business development manager at RSwitch, a digital financial services provider.

He introduced eKashi, a new platform that allows clients from COPEDU and other financial institutions to make digital payments conveniently and securely without having to travel.

Currently, COPEDU Plc operates 11 branches across Rwanda, including its headquarters in Kicukiro and additional locations in Remera, Batsinda, Nyabugogo, the Nyarugenge Market, Gisozi, Kimironko, Kicukiro (branch), CHIC, Rwamagana, and Kabuga.

Mediatrice Niwemutoni, a client of COPEDU Plc, shared that the institution supported her journey from selling potatoes to becoming a distributor of Bralirwa's non-alcoholic beverages.

The Managing Director of COPEDU Plc, Raissa Muyango, explained that the training aimed to help women scale their businesses by easing access to credit and promoting the use of digital platforms.

Herve Christian Gombaniro, Business Development Manager at RSwitch, stated that a new system has been introduced to enable users to make payments without leaving their current location.