Omobolanle Abajingin, initially from Nigeria, has made strides in her entrepreneurial journey since transferring to Canada in 2018, settling in Sudbury. Her path, nonetheless, was not with out challenges, together with gaining acceptance inside her new neighborhood.
Abajingin started her enterprise enterprise by experimenting with popcorn flavors alongside her youngsters, finally promoting them on the Sudbury Market. She later expanded by opening Zena Café at Laurentian College’s scholar centre.
On Wednesday, simply exterior her café, the Federal Financial Improvement Company for Northern Ontario (FedNor) introduced $389,197 in funding geared toward supporting Black-owned companies throughout northern Ontario. This funding will go to the Afro-Heritage Affiliation of Sudbury’s Northern Ontario Black Financial Empowerment Program (NOBEEP), which is able to help 20 new companies and supply help to fifteen present ones.
Abajingin, who has been part of this program, highlighted the significance of accelerating Black-owned companies in the neighborhood, noting that range brings a wealth of concepts and alternatives.
Charles Nyabeze, government director of NOBEEP, shared that over 126 Black companies have been recognized in northern Ontario. The funding will assist these companies develop and entry important sources. One main hurdle for Black enterprise homeowners is securing capital, particularly for newcomers with out established credit score histories. NOBEEP addresses this problem by way of “nano funding,” providing small loans to assist get new companies off the bottom.
In a transfer to develop its providers, NOBEEP not too long ago closed its downtown Sudbury workplace to boost its digital presence, making certain help can attain extra companies on-line. Nyabeze added that the group is exploring the potential for opening an Afro-centre sooner or later to additional help Black entrepreneurs.
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