MISSION
Entrepreneurship Alone Isn’t Enough.
Poverty is complex. That’s why MESENow combines business training with access to healthcare, childcare, and other community services. We don’t just teach people how to build businesses; we help remove the barriers that make it hard to develop economically.
Born from Dr. Ezenwayi Amaechi Ejiribe's doctoral research, which revealed the economic barriers facing small-scale women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, MESENow addresses poverty's root causes through comprehensive entrepreneurship programming. Our mission recognizes that sustainable businesses require stable people. We can't separate economic empowerment from basic fundamental human needs.
Alleviate Poverty Through Entrepreneurship While Addressing Its Root Causes.
Dr. Ezenwayi is a social entrepreneur, public health scholar, and educator committed to gender equity and economic justice. Her work is driven by research, faith, and a fierce belief in the power of community.
MESENow began as a doctoral research project that asked why women entrepreneurs in Nigerian markets struggled to succeed. That question launched a movement. Today, MESENow operates in multiple countries and neighborhoods in Rhode Island, combining local knowledge with academic insight to build real, lasting change.
OUR STORY
Dr. Ezenwayi – Born In The Market, Backed By Research
In the Media
It is an honor for our work and leadership to be recognized by thought leaders around the world. This page highlights articles, interviews, op-eds, and stories that showcase our mission, values, and impact. By sharing these features, we invite you to see how our efforts are shaping conversations, driving change, and inspiring communities globally.