Gender Equity Specialist Links Abuse Of Women To Financial Dependency

Many women have been trapped in the cycle of abuse and exploitation as a result of financial dependency on others resulting in limiting their ability to escape challenging circumstances.

A sustainability and gender equality specialist, Irene Oluwashina stated this on Friday while addressing participants at the end of a three-day skill acquisition programme organised to empower young women from May 14 to 16 at Efon Community Hall, Shomolu in Lagos.

Oluwashina stressed the need to escape this cycle through acquisition of required skills for sustainable productivity to offer support for the womenfolk, the family and the society.

The programme held with support by the Emmanuel Igbinovia Foundation aimed to empower vulnerable women, including victims of modern slavery, by equipping them with practical skills to achieve financial independence and regain control of their lives.

“We are committed to not just training these women but ensuring they succeed in their businesses and become self-reliant.

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“This initiative is about sustainability, impact, and equipping them to lead fulfilling and independent lives,” Oluwashina stressed.

Participants at the skills acquisition programme included young women from Shomolu and nearby areas of Lagos who were offered hands-on training in high-demand skills such as content creation, mobile graphics, video editing, makeup artistry, headgear ‘gele’ tying, nail technology, and wig making.

These practical sessions were complemented by workshops on combating gender-based violence and motivational talks designed to inspire confidence and resilience among participants.

A participant, Bike Ola, described the training as transformative, saying, “The programme was really great; it was an eye-opener for me. I learned how to do makeup and gele, and I’m so impressed by how nice the teachers were. With this training, I believe I can turn this into something steady and keep growing my skills. I want to thank the foundation for this opportunity.”

As part of measures to support them to start implementing the skilled acquired, mini start-up kits were handed to outstanding participants to immediately launch their businesses.

Additionally, a continuous mentorship programme was introduced to guide the women in establishing and managing their startups effectively.

LEADERSHIP understands that Emmanuel Igbinovia Foundation has improved access to education and opportunities for vulnerable groups through such programme as its mission.

Oluwashina emphasised that the initiative was part of a larger vision to promote gender equality and foster resilience within communities.

“This programme is about more than skills. It’s about empowering women to break free from cycles of dependency and contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she added.