Over 400 women, including widows and the under-privileged in the society were last Thursday empowered by an Ibadan-based organisation as part of activities to mark its 12th anniversary celebration.
DHIL Nigeria Limited, the parent body of Crime Alert Security Network as part of its celebration, decided to give back to the society as part of its corporate social responsibility by empowering hundreds of women at the Apex Event Center, Agodi in Ibadan.
At the end of the programme, 400 persons were given a 5kg bag of rice and N5000 each while 30 were given interest free loans of N25, 000 each to augment their trade. The organisation had earlier trained over 100 women in diverse vocational trades and given tools of work free.
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Speaking on the inspiration behind the programme, the Chief Security Officer of Crime Alert Security Network, Dr. Amos Olaniyan, said the project was not politically motivated but was a call to serve humanity, adding that his organization had been doing such over the years.
“It is our belief that when the challenge of hunger is eradicated, the burden of poverty is lessened, that is why we give food and stipends to women, especially widows and those identified as under-privileged in the society. We have over the years been identified with providing for widows, women and other under-privileged people in the society with various empowerment programnmes.
“We have found that women, widows and their children form a large percentage of the most disadvantaged and discriminated against group in the society, hence the need to empower them from time to time to make life easier for them,” Dr Olaniyan stated.
He explained further that the focus is to empower women to create a better society, adding that his organisation had in the past provided widows and women with vocational skills on how to fish and be independent through skills acquisition and financial assistance based on the belief that every woman is entitled to equal opportunities, economic justice as well as tools to work out their economic freedom and independence.
“Our mission is to alleviate poverty and advance the social and economic condition of poor widows and the under-privileged in our society, empowering indigent persons while also performing our primary assignment of securing the society through the Crime Alert Network.
“What brought about crime alert? Increase in the rate of crime in Nigeria, especially in the South-West of the country is raising the alarm that we must come together to find a solution as Nigerians cannot afford to be living in fear with the kind of economic hardship the nation is going through. At least if we cannot eat well, we should be able to sleep with our two eyes closed.
“It is our belief that security begins with individuals; that is, every citizen needs to be security conscious to save the whole nation. This is the basis for Crime Alert Security Network where we empower people to contribute to societal security through various programmes and partnership with security agencies,” he stated.
Speaking during the event, one of the beneficiaries stated that it is impressive that an organization that is not a non-governmental body is seeking ways of restoring dignity to women out of its personal funds without making unnecessary noise about its activities, adding that well-to-do people in the society need to emulate the gesture to make the society a better place.
A beneficiary who identified herself as Mariam Oloko, told Nigerian Tribune that the organization has been able to give hope to women by giving them a way to economically empower themselves, adding that, “it is because of Crime Alert and its management that some of us are not on the streets begging for alms or become liabilities to our relatives. We can’t thank them enough for all they have done over the years and are still doing. We hope more people will rise up to the challenge and help women in order to help the society.”
Dignitaries from all walks of life as well as security agents from various bodies witnessed the event.
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