By Oluwatope Lawanson
An NGO, the Women Liberation and Transformation Group (WLIT), has empowered some women with cash in Koloba community in Orisumbare, Ayobo Area of Lagos State.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs Olanike Mic-Taiwo, at the presentation of the empowerment on Wednesday, said each of the beneficiaries was presented with N40,000 cash.
Mic-Taiwo explained that the empowerment project which started in 2020 is a five-year Women’s Voice and Leadership project.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was subgranted by Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAPH), and funded by Action Aids in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada.
Mic-Taiwo said that the essence of the project was to give necessary support to the womenfolk and improve their economic capabilities.
“Some women in the Ayobo community have been trained on different skills and it is important to support the financially unstable ones with some money so that they can scale up their businesses.
“That is why we are supporting these women today so that they can increase their business capital,” she said.
Mic-Taiwo also said that the primary objective of the women’s economic empowerment is to eradicate violence against women and girls in the society.
According to her, this is because when a woman is economically stable, she can contribute meaningfully in the home and society at large.
Mrs Fatimoh Ajiboye, one of the beneficiaries, said the empowerment has come at a crucial time in her business when the cost of goods had skyrocketed.
She said the high cost of raw materials had prevented her from buying enough goods to sell.
Ajiboye said that the financial support from the NGO would go a long way in sustaining her business.
She expressed her appreciation to Action Aid and Global affairs, Canada, for their support to women in the community.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Remi Otitoju, also commended the support from Action aids and Global Affairs, Canada.
She said she was overjoyed when she received the call concerning the financial empowerment, expressing optimism that the gesture would have positive impact in her life.
Otitoju, however, pleaded with the sponsors to avail similar support to women in the rural communities so that they can also live a better life. NAN
