Why I Focus On Children, Youth, Women – Sarah Umahi

Founder of the Global Initiative for Women in Leadership (GIFWIL), Lady Sarah Umahi, has expressed her passion for aiding indigent children, youths and women to earn a better living.

She stated this during a chat with newsmen in Abuja, disclosing that she ventured into being a philanthropist and humanitarian in 2008 after her encounter with an indigent girl who expressed exceptional zeal for academic excellence.

“I established an NGO, though without cash, but had passion to assist kids, youths and the less privileged women in rural areas. What actually made me to take such responsibility was when I was one day driving on Minna road, I met a small girl going to school with bare foot and torn school uniform, carrying slate. I stopped and asked her where she was going.

“She replied that she was going to school. I was pained because when I asked about her footwear, she replied that she had none.

“The ground was very hot because it was in dry season. I had to carry her to a nearby store and bought her a pair of slippers to wear and then took her to the school. When I got there I saw others almost on the same attire, not well dressed. I then picked her and one other kid and placed them on scholarship.

“Now she is a graduate of Law. Right there the spirit of God ministered to me to take that as a project. Then I started going to schools to assist the less privileged. I have been on this project since 2009,” the philanthropist narrated.

She further disclosed that since the establishment of her non-governmental organisation, the ‘Kit a Child to School Project,’ they had been able to equip over 500 kids with over 28 schools benefitting from the project.

“It is a yearly programme. This year our target is to go to a primary school in a rural area of the FCT because they are mainly the schools that need help.

“The parents that have benefitted years ago from this programme have been sending appreciation letters and messages till date.

“This year programme was held at Kins International School, Karimo, Abuja. At the end of the programme, a donation of N50,000 was made to the school, while the pupils received packs of exercise books, text books, biros, pencils, sandals, school uniforms, bags and many other items.

“We have also promised to renovate the school and equip it with the necessary equipment to make the school standard,” she added. According to Lady Umahi, nobody is sponsoring them.

“I am using my personal money as an entrepreneur to finance the programme,” she added.

Umahi, who said no funds had been donated for the project from any individual or organisation which she said is one of their challenges, however insisted that her vision would not be pulled back, especially in touching the lives of the less privileged.

Umahi further disclosed that the criteria for choosing the school for assistance came from divine direction.

She advised parents not to give up on their children, no matter the circumstances and challenges they are going through, urging them not to give up on their children but believe that the future has better hope.