Over 250 vulnerable rural women in Ogun State have benefitted from the N120 million grants from a Non-Governmental Organization, SOS Children’s Village in Nigeria.
The beneficiaries, drawn from five local government communities in Ogun East, consisted of 12 different Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) members. At an event held in Owu Ijebu, each of these associations received a symbolic presentation of N10 million cheques from SOS Children’s Village.
Speaking with journalists after the symbolic presentation of cheques to beneficiaries, Eghosa Ehosa, National Director of the SOS Children’s Village, said the principal focus of the intervention was to foster economic self-dependence in each beneficiary to enable them to adequately cater for their children’s future needs.
Ehosa, whom the NGO’s Chief Programme Officer represented, Ayodeji Adelopo, explained that the benefitting vulnerable members of VSLA were those who succeeded at their proposal, stressing that the N10 million seed funding sought to support their entrepreneurial initiatives.
Emphasising that the seed funding is also part of SOS Children’s Village Nigeria’s family-strengthening support system policy, Adelopo added that the support is also an investment in the education, health, and well-being of children, their livelihoods, and the overall stability of the benefiting communities.
“As we look forward to a more favourable economic situation, it is crucial that these groups are supported and equipped with the necessary tools and resources to bring progress to them.
“The grants being awarded are designed to empower them, serving as a strategic measure to foster economic growth and enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable community members. This initiative also aims to strengthen social cohesion and develop collective problem-solving skills within these communities”.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Adijat Adeleye, commended the donor for the initiative and said the State government would monitor it to ensure compliance with the grants’ terms.
