Entrepreneurship: NGOs empower 122 widows, others in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

Two Non Government Organisations (NGOs), Helpline Foundation for the Needy Abuja, and the Rasaq Okulaja Empowerment Initiative, have empowered no fewer than 122 persons, in Abuja.
The beneficiaries mainly widows, and the less-privileged, were engaged in a 3-day skills acquisition programme at Church of God Mission International (CGMI) Vocational Training Centre in Byazhin, Kubwa.
It was gathered that after the intensive training in soap making, confectionaries, makeup and hat making, adire making (tie and dye), among others, all the trainees were, over the weekend, given certificates of attendance with different kinds of gift items, while only those with outstanding performance were given starter packs, which included sets of sewing and grinding machines.
Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the event, President, Helpline Foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, noted the imperative to always do more in uplifting the needy, and ensuring that they in turn empower others.
Ahmadu said: “This year is just the beginning. Next year, we are going to come back to see that most of our trainees today will train other women.
“They are going to grow from this little handouts we are giving them here today to become big employers of labour.
“I want to challenge the women that have been trained in the past three days not to take this training for granted.
“Package your package very well, and market your package. With this training, you can go to the international market depending on how well you package your products”.
Earlier, Pastor (Mrs.) Toyin Rasaq Okulaja, President, the Rasaq Okulaja Initiative, noted that the NGO, named after her late husband, Rev. Rasaq Okulaja, and launched on his one-year memorial, was designed to actualize his plan to establish such to support the less privileged in the society.
While thanking everyone for attending the event, she revealee that it was by God’s grace that she was alive, having lost Rev Rasaq Okulaja, a year ago.
Pastor Okulaja advised the widows saying: “Don’t look down on yourselves. Put to good use what you’ve learnt. Whatever you touch will prosper.
“In all things, give thanks to God. By strength shall no man prevail. This is one year of God’s faithfulness”.
Highpoint of the event was colourful exhibition of items by the trainees produced after the three-day empowerment programme, even as they expressed gratitude for the opportunity given them to be self-sufficient.