Mamalette is a startup for mothers who are looking for valuable and lifesaving information both online and offline. Anike talks about her startup, motivation for setting up Mamalette as well as challenges. Excertps.
Who is Anike Lawal?
I’m a young Nigerian entrepreneur who is passionate about making a difference in the world. I quit my job as a management consultant to start this after I became a mother for the first time, I am also an alumnus of the London School of Economics and Trinity College Dublin.
Can you tell us about Mamalette?
Mamalette is a social enterprise is characterised by a strong commitment to positive social change. We are building a ‘local’ health network for mothers in Africa, starting in Nigeria and are training and equipping mothers as ‘health champions’ to help women find the right health information for themselves and their families.
What motivated you to establish or set up Mamalette?
When I was pregnant with my first child, I looked for a community of other women in the same situation. Unable to find such a group, she decided to create one: Mamalette. Today Mamalette is a thriving community that connects pregnant women and new mothers to valuable, often life-saving information, both online and offline.
There is no doubt that maternal and infant mortality is on the high side in Nigeria. What role is Mamalette playing to tackle this problem?
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Awareness is key to tackling the high maternal and infant mortality in the country. So what we are doing is raising awareness and informing women, which can go a long way to reducing the preventable causes of this problem.
Do you think the government is doing enough to combat this problem? How can the government help startups like yours to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country?
The Nigerian government has various initiatives and policies that tackle this problem. I would love the government to make it easier for startups like mine to work with them, as ultimately the projects or ideas that achieve scale can only do so with government support.
Can you share some of the challenges of running a startup especially as a female entrepreneur in Nigeria?
Well, most startups challenges are related to financial resources and the lack of it. But asides that, I have gotten some really good support that has helped me get where I am today.
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
If you are truly passionate and committed to the work you do and the problem you are solving, then the right people and the right resources will come your way.
