Under the patronage of Prof. Sherif Youssef Khater, President of Mansoura University, and Prof. Mohamed Abdel Azim, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, with the leadership of Prof. Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Latif, Dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Doaa Samir Hoza, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, a symposium titled "Women's Economic Empowerment and Its Role in Sustainable Community Development" was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

The event was organized by the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector at the faculty in collaboration with the University's Anti-Violence Against Women Unit, the Equal Opportunity Unit of Dakahlia Governorate, and the Nile Pioneers Center of the National Bank of Egypt, as part of the Nile Pioneers Initiative launched by the Central Bank of Egypt and the Egyptian banking sector.

Key Speakers and Topics:

• Ms. Yasmin Mohand El-Gendy, Director of the Equal Opportunity Unit in Dakahlia, discussed the concept of equal opportunity, its objectives, the National Strategy for Women Empowerment 2030, and the role of the Equal Opportunity Unit in the governorate.
• Ms. Amira El-Sherbiny Ragab, Business Development Specialist at the Nile Pioneers Center – National Bank of Egypt, introduced the Nile Pioneers Initiative and its role in women’s economic and social empowerment. She also provided guidance on business feasibility studies, project management, and securing funding from the bank to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The symposium witnessed active participation from faculty members, administrative staff, and students, with an engaging Q&A session addressing various inquiries from attendees.

Following the event, the National Bank of Egypt team, represented by Ms. Marwa El-Sayed Zahaneh and Ms. Radwa, facilitated the issuance of 51 Meeza Visa cards for faculty members, completing the process on-site for immediate distribution.