Seycecilia Foundation Empowers 200 Widows, Vulnerable FCT Women

The Seycecilia Foundation has launched “Project Arise”, a flagship empowerment initiative designed to equip 200 widows and vulnerable women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with practical business skills, mentorship and entrepreneurial support to enable them to build sustainable livelihoods and achieve long-term economic independence.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), commenced on February 9, 2026, at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The one-week intensive programme is structured to provide a holistic support framework for widows and vulnerable women, combining hands-on vocational training with foundational business education, mentorship, and enterprise development support.

At the opening ceremony on Monday, the founder of the Seycecila Foundation, Oluwaseye Babatunde, reiterated the group’s commitment to advancing the economic and social empowerment of underserved women in Nigeria

She said in the face of Nigeria’s current economic realities, marked by rising living costs, limited access to capital, and shrinking livelihood opportunities, targeted investments in women have become not only necessary but urgent.

According to her, empowering women with relevant skills and entrepreneurial capacity remains one of the most effective pathways to strengthening families, communities and local economies.

“Project Arise represents our belief that when women are given the right tools, training and support systems, they not only transform their own lives, they lift entire communities, Babatunde said.

She added that the foundation would continue to design and implement programmes that go beyond short-term relief and focus instead on building lasting economic resilience among women

She emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships in achieving sustainable impact, noting that collaborations with institutions such as the Abuja Enterprise Agency are critical to scaling results and ensuring that interventions are both practical and

In his remarks, the managing director of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, De Chudi Lugwuada-Ezirigwe, applauded the foundation for its timely and impactful intervention, describing “Project Arise as a beacon of hope for women in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Ugwuada-Ezirigwe reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the initiative, noting that the AEA will provide technical, institutional and logistical backing throughout the duration of the programme to ensure participants derive maximum value from the training

Project Arise will run from February 9 to 13, 2026, and features practical, hands-on training in income-generating skills such as soap making, confectionery production, leather works, and other market-relevant vocational trades. In addition to skills acquisition, beneficiaries will also receive mentorship, basic business management guidance, and entrepreneurial support aimed at helping them start, structure, and sustain their own enterprises.

The program is designed not only to improve short-term income opportunities but also to strengthen participants’ long-term capacity to participate meaningfully in the local economy, access markets, and build resilient micro-businesses

The training is taking place at the Abuja Enterprise Agency Headquarters in Abuja, and forms part of the Seycecilla Foundation’s broader strategy to promote women’s economic inclusion, enterprise development, and community-level resilience across Nigeria

The Seycecilia Foundation is a Nigeria based non-profit organization committed to advancing the social and economic empowerment of underserved women and vulnerable communities. The Foundation designs and implements strategic interventions focused on skills development, entrepreneurship, livelihood creation, and capacity building with a strong emphasis on long-term sustainability and impact

Through partnerships with public institutions, private sector actors, and development stakeholders, the Seycecilis Foundation works to create pathways for women to achieve financial independence, strengthen their familles, and contribute meaningfully to community and national development. Its programs prioritize practical solutions, inclusive growth, and dignity-centered empowerment for women across Nigeria.