Saraki Foundation empowers hundreds of widows in Kwara, targets 70, 000 across Nigeria

The Abubakar Bukola Saraki ABS Foundation has empowered 200 widows from Kwara Central and Kwara South with the aim to extend the empowerment support to 70,000 widows across Nigeria in the next few years.

The Foundation also organized a business training workshop for the beneficiaries of the pilot phase of the project held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

While delivering his speech at the training workshop and empowerment program on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Project Director, North Central, Mallam Musa Aliyu, stated that the objective is to provide widows with the skills and resources necessary for sustainable economic independence.

Aliyu added that the Foundation aims to make a remarkable difference in the lives of the widows, having identified some of the challenges confronting them.

The Project Director, who explained that the beneficiaries are majorly from the ages of 25 and 50 years, said there’s also a plan to guide and monitor their progress.

He said, “Research has consistently shown that widowhood is not only an emotional loss but also a severe economic and social burden for many women.

“Nigeria is home to an estimated 15 million widows, a significant portion of the global widow population of 258 million. In many cases, these women face discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion from their communities and even from family support systems.

“Similarly, there is a strong linkage between children dropping out of school, deteriorating health, household indebtedness, and prevalent social issues linked to gender and social discrimination.

“This empowerment project is thus aimed at supporting widows to attain their right to protection, inclusion, and participation in the society where they will have the ability to cater for their needs and sustain their livelihood.

“This pilot phase covers Enterprise Management Training, Empowerment Component as well as Networking and Knowledge Sharing.”

One of the resource persons, Princess Opeyemi Adegbite, who spoke on the workshop theme, “Business Survival in a Challenged Economy” stressed the need for entrepreneurs to possess hands-on knowledge in areas such as capital preservation, bookkeeping, and financial management.

Adegbite, an entrepreneurship and agri-business trainer, charged the beneficiaries with the need to improve customer relations, cut costs of production by running a business as a cooperative, invest in areas of strength and be mindful of selling on credit.

Also speaking, the National Council for Women Society, Idris Atine Awah, and the Iyaloja General, Market Women Association, Adenike Abdulkareem Lambe, charged the beneficiaries on the need to make judicious use of the grant.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with newsmen appreciated the sponsor, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation and promised judicious use of the grant.

Mrs Medina Mumini, from Ilorin West, expressed happiness at the financial assistance, noting that she had never enjoyed such benefits.

She noted that the fund will go a long way to promote her provision store and poultry farming.

Madam Shehu Khadijat, from Asa Local Government, said the training session impacted her and opened her eyes to the significance of customer relations and management.

“My yam flour business has been down for a while now, and reviving it, especially at this present time, has been impossible.

“But with this grant and the knowledge gained, this is a lifesaver,” she said.

A raw food seller from Ilorin East local government, Ahmed Awahu, lauded the organizers and promised to be present at subsequent events to share her success story.

Another beneficiary from Ilorin South, Margaret Adejumo, appealed to the sponsors to continue to keep in touch with them to prevent many from being distracted.

The widow noted that the financial support will help to stabilize her soap manufacturing business and poultry farming.

ABS Foundation is a non-political NGO whose mission is to touch the lives of vulnerable populations in positive ways.

The foundation focuses on health, education, youth empowerment, sports, and leadership mentoring.

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