Saraki Foundation Targets 70,000 Nigerian Widows As Beneficiaries Of New Empowerment Programme, Starts With 200 People In Kwara

The Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Foundation has launched an empowerment programme for widows in the country.

While targeting 70,000 Nigerian widows in the next few years, the Foundation has begun with 200 widows in Kwara Central and Kwara South senatorial districts.

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com noted that the Foundation has also organized a business training workshop for the beneficiaries of the pilot phase of the project in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

While delivering his speech during the training workshop and empowerment programme on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Project Director, North Central, Mallam Musa Aliyu, noted that the objective is to provide widows with the skills and resources necessary for sustainable economic independence

Aliyu added that the Foundation aims to make a remarkable difference in the lives of the widows, having identified some of the challenges confronting them.

The Project Director, who explained that the beneficiaries are majorly between the ages of 25 and 50 years, said the Foundation will guide and monitor their progress.

He said, ‘Research has consistently shown that widowhood is not only an emotional loss but also a severe economic and social burden for many women.

Nigeria is home to an estimated 15 million widows, a significant portion of the global widow population of 258 million. In many cases, these women face discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion from their communities and even from family support systems.

Similarly, there is a strong linkage between children dropping out of school, deteriorating health, household indebtedness, and prevalent social issues linked to gender and social discrimination.

This empowerment programme is therefore aimed at supporting widows to attain their right to protection, inclusion, and participation in society where they will have the ability to cater for their needs and sustain their livelihood.

This pilot phase covers Enterprise Management Training, Empowerment Component as well as Networking and Knowledge Sharing’.

One of the resource persons, Princess Opeyemi Adegbite, who spoke on the workshop’s theme, ‘Business Survival in a Challenged Economy’, emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to possess hands-on knowledge in aspects that include capital preservation, bookkeeping, and financial management.

Adegbite, an entrepreneurship and agri-business trainer, urged the beneficiaries to attach importance to good customer service, cut costs of production by running their business as a cooperative, invest in areas of strength and be mindful of selling on credit.

In their separate speeches,  Idris Atine Awah of the National Council for Women Society, and the Iyaloja General, Market Women Association, Adenike Abdulkareem Lambe, urged the beneficiaries to put the grants to good use.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke with newsmen, appreciated the sponsor, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation and promised to put the grants to good use.

Mrs Medina Mumini, from Ilorin West local government, expressed happiness about getting the financial assistance, noting that she had never enjoyed such a benefit.

She noted that the money will go a long way in promoting her provision store and poultry farming.

Madam Shehu Khadijat, from Asa Local Government, said the training session impacted her and opened her eyes to the significance of good management and customer service..

‘My yam flour business has been down for a while now, and reviving it, especially at this present time, has been impossible.

But with this grant and the knowledge gained, this is a lifesaver’ she said.

A raw food seller from Ilorin East local government, Ahmed Awahu, lauded the organizers and promised to be present at subsequent events to share her success story.

Another beneficiary from Ilorin South local government, Margaret Adejumo, appealed to the sponsors to continue to keep in touch with them in order to stay on track.

The widow noted that the financial support will help her to stabilize her soap manufacturing business and poultry farming. 

ABS Foundation is a non-political NGO whose mission is to touch the lives of vulnerable people in positive ways.  The foundation focuses on health, education, youth empowerment, sports, and leadership mentoring-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you