In a bid to bring Nigerians, particularly women out of poverty, a group, Progressive Ladies of Honour Rock Club, has urged both the Federal and State Governments to support its vision of improving the lives of women in Nigeria.
Speaking at an event to launch the Association’s fabrics and empowerment scheme, its president, Mrs Fathia Omolola Oyesiji, said the Association aimed at bringing different women together and ensuring that there is a network of support amongst them.
Furthermore, she explained that the Association, by helping businesses of women grow, the spate of domestic violence, among other societal issues affecting the lives of women, would be reduced significantly.
She disclosed that over 10 women were empowered with the sum of N30,000 each for business startups, while others with skills but lacked equipment to start up businesses were given tools like grinding machine, and deep fryer, among others.
She said: “Progressive Ladies of Honor Rock Club was put together to bring women together from different diversity, lift each other, support each other’s businesses, mingle and connect. The vision and the mission behind this association is for women to create a chain-like connection where they can hold each other’s hands and form a networking ladder — a networking channel to hold each other’s hands and become a better version of themselves.
“It is also to help sisters to advertise their businesses, promote sisters’ businesses, refer people to them and empower ourselves, whereever you see any sister needs assistance, assist them. Where you see any way you can connect them to get stuff at cheaper prices, connect them and at the same time we have fun.
“Most women here can not be found in the case of domestic violence. If you look at most homes that found themselves in domestic violence and the issue of assaults, most times it is the issue of money, and this is because they don’t have enough, they’re waiting for the husband to bring money and he cannot provide. But here, we bring women together. Women that can assist their men, women that don’t need to wait for their men before they can do things, women of honour.
“On this note, we need the help of the government because we wish to do better if we have more funds but with the little that we have put together, we’re still going to be doing alot. We still plead to anyone that is associated with the Ministry of Women Affairs, we plead to the Federal Government to come to assist so we can be able to empower women.”
On her part, one of the protocol members of the association, Funmilayo Aruba, said: “This association in the next two years, I see it going higher and better than now. In business, family, business, and in finances, we would grow, because we are determined to help fellow women who own businesses to grow and live well.”
Commending the association, one of the beneficiaries of the Association’s empowerment scheme, Msendoo Ayamkebem, said: “I joined the association this year around January and so far, they have empowered me. The time they went for a visit in my house, they empowered me with N50,000 to start up my business which I was doing before it went down the drain. In fact, I was having more customers. I have more demand than supply. Any time I have yam, they will rush it and so far I am still doing well in the business and I am not the only one, there are many.”
Speaking also, the winner of the association’s beauty pageant, Queen Elizabeth Agbor, while expressing gratitude, said: “Winning the beauty pageant is a great achievement for me, I thank God for the honour, the work and opportunities ahead.”
