A non-governmental organisation, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development, has empowered more than 450 women engaged in trade and vocational businesses across Lagos State.
The empowerment programme, supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, was held on Tuesday at the Police Officers’ Wives Association Hall in Ikeja as part of activities marking International Women’s Day.
Speaking at the event, a representative of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Pierre Louis Bonnel, said the embassy had continued to support civil society organisations working on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
“The French Embassy has been supporting civil society organisations in Nigeria. This support is both financial and in capacity building. From 2024 to 2026, the French Embassy has been supporting more than 20 civil society organisations across Nigeria with projects that focus on gender equality between men and women and economic empowerment for women and girls across Nigeria,” Bonnel said.
He noted that the event was significant, as it followed weeks of activities around International Women’s Day and celebrated the resilience of women who had participated in the programme.
“Today it is very important that I am here because we are in the week in the aftermath of the 8th of March, which is International Women’s Day. After months and months of projects, we can see here today that there are tens and tens of women gathered, and we are glad to celebrate them. We are glad to see how they have been economically empowered and how they have developed their businesses and what they have been achieving so far and also to celebrate their resilience and the support of HUFFPED,” Bonnel said.
He added that many of the beneficiaries had demonstrated the capacity to make decisions about their economic future and expand their businesses.
“I do not think I want to advise today. I think they found their way, and I think that is the best way. I can see that some of them have the capacity to know what is best for them and the capacity to make decisions. Now that they have economic power, they can develop their strategies on what they think they want,” Bonnel noted.
He recalled that the women explained what their difficulties were, and now they are saying what their plans are in one or two years and how they want to expand their businesses and employ more hands. “They know what is best for them, and they know how they can dream big, and I am happy to see this,” Bonnel added.
On sustainability, he stressed that the programme focused on long-term empowerment rather than dependency.
“It is not all about a one-off thing, but we cannot support a project permanently. The key is sustainability. If you talk with HUFFPED and other civil society organisations, they will tell you how they have strategised on the projects so that if the project does not continue, these women are empowered to generate more money.
“The goal is not that one civil society organisation is only about benevolence. It is the opposite; we give autonomy to women and girls and autonomy to civil society organisations to build partnerships so that people have many opportunities, and today we are witnessing it,” Bonnel added.
The Executive Director of HUFFPED, Henry Adenigba, said the initiative formed part of the Household Economy Strengthening and Resilience project supported by the French Embassy.
“We are here to give out support to the marginalised people we have been working with on the project by the French Embassy called Household Economy Strengthening and Resilience. We are giving them support to boost the businesses or vocations they are already engaged in,” Adenigba said.
He explained that the project had run for about a year and included several capacity-building interventions and monitoring activities.
“We have about 450 beneficiaries today. We already gave them advice before now because this project has been on for one year. There have been many capacity-building interventions, and among them, we have community workers who are monitoring and evaluating their progress,” Adenigba said.
He added that the beneficiaries received equipment and materials tailored to their businesses.
“For those dealing in food materials, we are giving them items to boost their businesses. Some in garment making are receiving sewing machines, while others who already have machines are getting stoning tools to make stone accessories and beautify the garments they make. Some are selling soft drinks, so we are giving them support materials. It is not charity; we are supporting what they are already doing so they can support their families,” Adenigba added.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration at HUFFPED, Adekemi Adeyeye, urged the beneficiaries to grow their businesses and safeguard their capital.
“My advice is that they should not eat up their capital but expand their business so when we call for evaluation, they will be happy to show progress. We are giving them many pieces of equipment such as sewing machines, stonemasonry equipment and hairdressing tools. From now on, they will continue their work while we continue monitoring and training them,” Adeyeye said.
One of the beneficiaries, Oluwaseun Abibat, a barber, commended the organisers for providing training on financial independence and savings.
“I am Oluwaseun Abibat. I am so excited to be here today. I look forward to seeing more. I appreciate the organisers because they have taken us through training on financial independence and savings. I am a barber for both men and women. The programme was brought to our community at Agbede in Ikorodu, and I started attending their meetings and saving money through the scheme,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Jimoh Rashidat, a food vendor, said the Village Savings and Loans Association scheme had helped her expand her business.
“I am a food seller. HUFFPED has tried for me through its Village Savings and Loans Association scheme. I took a loan of N150,000 from our group, Progressive Bajulaiye, Somolu. I added it to my business and I benefited. I pray that God will bless the organisation and those who organised the scheme,” Rashidat said.
Similarly, Adeniran Funmilayo from Koshofe said the programme had helped her manage her business and family finances.
“They gave us training on financial literacy, marketing and VSLA, which is Village Savings and Loan Association. It is a community scheme where we invest every month and people can request loans. I have taken loans about five or six times to support my business and pay my children’s school fees. I appreciate HUFFPED for the opportunities given to us in financial literacy, record-keeping, savings and business management,” she said.
