IWD: NGOs empower women with tools, cash to expand their businesses

The Olean Care Aid Foundation (OCAF), in celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, has supplied women with tools and cash to support and expand their small businesses.

The event, which was held at the police barracks at Garki, gathered over 300 women residents in Garki Village, Airport Road, and Maraba to enable an organised distribution of the tools to diligent women in genuine need of support.

OCAF, in collaboration with the Assured Charity International Organisation (ACIO) and the Isioma Akamagwuna Foundation (IAF), organised the event to ensure a better life for the women.

Mrs. Oge Ezenyimulu-Nwagu, Founder and CEO of OCAF, expressed her gratitude for being able to meet the needs of women and how it inspired her to begin her NGO and get more collaborations from other people to expand their reach.

“This is something that personally I have been doing for a long time with the profits we make from our business. Unfortunately, it’s never enough.

“So we decided to open an NGO so that we can get more people to support and be able to reach out to so many people that we can reach out.”. She said

Nwagu further stated that investing in women was a sure way to promote economic growth.

“It gives me joy to see people smile and see that they have something to do, especially women.

“Because I’ve always believed that when you empower one woman, you empower the household and the nation at large,” she said.

The philanthropist added that their donation was targeted to meet the needs of the women doing either business or rendering services in exchange for money.

‘’We went out of our way to understand what some of these people do, and then we bought some of that equipment for them.

“So if you are in the Akara business and you have told us how long you’ve been in that Akara business, we expect that we want you to expand.

“In trying to make you expand, we give you an extra Akara pan, the long spoon, guinea corn, and other things you need to expand your business.

“We saw that we chose to give some tools for their businesses and some cash to augment whatever they have in terms of their capital base and food stock’’. She said.

She advised other people to come out to support more women in establishing businesses for themselves.

“My expectation is that I would like so many other people to come out to start encouraging women to help them establish their businesses.”. She said.

Mrs. Isioma Akamagwuna, Founder and CEO of the Isioma Akamagwuna Foundation (IAF), highlighted how the women were going to profit from the various tools and equipment they have provided for their businesses.

“Putting these resources together will empower some of them in the little ways we can.

“Those that are starting a petty business can receive the grinding machine. There’s also food to reduce hunger as a result of economic hardship.”. She said.

She expressed her worry about the poor welfare of women and encouraged other people to be a source of help to women with the little they have.

“Women are not catered for as they should. It is a worrisome situation.

“It is not that the money or the fund is there, but just something we just put together as friends and family.

“And we thought it wise to assist them because when you empower a woman, you empower the family.

She advised the government to create more inclusion for women in society, as their impact is invaluable.

“I ask that the government carry us along in whatever they are doing in society because a woman can carry responsibilities and bring solutions.

Mrs Uche Onwagbufor, Anchor, Culture and Creative Arts, FCT UBEB, advised the FG on more investment and the inclusion of more women in the affairs of the country.

“Government should involve more women in most of the affairs that they’re doing, not only men. Remember, this world is not only for men; it is combined, and at times, we women have patience enough to undergo more pressure than men.

“God gave us the special endowment to prevail against men. Maintaining a healthy family is not an easy task. The woman is always there to take care of the children, and she has the potential to handle even bigger tasks.

Hon. Anjor Obande, Special Guest/National Programme Manager, National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA), encouraged women to apply diligence to their handiwork, as it is always rewarded.

“My women, anything you find to do with your hand, do it with pride. Anything you do, God will multiply it.

She narrated a story about how she became a sustainer in her family after the loss of her husband’s job. According to her, she switched from mechanical engineering to fashion design and soon became an international brand.

“God created us to bless the work of our hands. So stay diligent in what you do.”. She said.
She further promises to support the women in any way she can.

“ I’m going to do my best to see how I can support you. I thank God for this one that we have now . Please, let’s be grateful for what we have now, and more will come by the grace of God.”. She said.

Janet Luka, a beneficiary, thanks the NGOs for collaborating to assist women and encourages others to also help women.

“I thank this NGO for coming together to help women. It is a very good thing, and I am happy that every woman here will go home with something.

“If you have it in your heart to help women like us, please come to our aid. We have really been suffering.”. She said.