Non-governmental organisations under the auspices of the Rasaq Okulaja Empowerment Initiative in collaboration with the Helpline Social Support Initiative, have empowered 60 widows through a skills acquisition programme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
During a second memorial empowerment and exhibition programme, the widows were trained in tie-dyeing, soap-making, turban-making, and snack-making, among other skills.
During the training and exhibition at the weekend in Abuja, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, president of Helpline Social Support Initiative, said that the empowerment was part of a two-year memorial to the late Rev. Rasaq Okulaja.
Ahmadu said that the training was designed to eradicate poverty among widows, as well as keep the memory of the late Okulaja alive.
She explained that the empowerment also allowed the widows and young girls to be better versions of themselves.
“You must also register your businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The helpline will assist intending participants who have adequately packaged themselves with the registration.
“Try to be a better version of yourself, improve yourself at all times, and form clusters among yourself to work as a team and easily connect with customers.
“I promised that next year, we will expand this exhibition and take it to the Old Parade Ground, Garki to accommodate more participants,” she added.
Also, the president of Rasaq Okulaja, Empowerment Initiative, Mrs Toyin Okulaja, while extolling her late husband, described him as a man who loved impacting people’s lives.
“After he died, we decided to establish an empowerment initiative after his name to keep his legacy alive and continue to impact and transform the lives of the poor and vulnerable in our communities.
“We empowered 50 women and young girls in 2023 with different skills and today they are exhibiting their products.
“This year, we decided to support only widows with self-sustaining skills, food items and a little cash to support their lives because they are going through a lot,” she said.
Okulaja expressed joy over what the beneficiaries of the first edition of the empowerment were able to do with the skills they acquired.
“I am glad to see what they exhibited. I am so happy that we were able to empower people, who are also empowering others.
“Some of them could now feed their families and pay their children school fees, so we are encouraged,” she said.
“ Life was difficult for me and my family before the empowerment because my husband was not working.
“But between November 2023 and now, God has been faithful. The skill is putting food on my table, paying the bills, and paying my children’s school fees,” one of the beneficiaries said.
