OWU -IJEBU: Over 250 vulnerable rural women on Monday received N120 million Naira grants to scale up their income generating ventures and cushion the effect of the current economic challenges.
The beneficiaries who are members of 12 different Village Savings and Loan Associations(VSLA) spread across five communities in Ijebu, Ogun State received symbolic presentation of N10 million each from the donor, SOS Children’s Village Owu Ijebu, a non – governmental organisation.
This followed their successful proposal to the SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, seeking seed funding to support their initiatives.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the National Director of the SOS, Mr. Eghosa Ehosa, said the intervention seeks to foster their economic independence and the respective communities.
He added that the support is also an investment in the education, health, and well-being of children, their livelihoods, and the overall stability of the benefiting communities.
He urged them to use the grants for maximum impact on the purpose on which it was given.
“As we look forward to a more favorable economic situation, it is crucial that these groups are supported and equipped with the necessary tools and resources to bring progress to them.
“The grants being awarded are designed to empower them, serving as a strategic measure to foster economic growth and enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable community members. This initiative also aims to strengthen social cohesion and develop collective problem-solving skills within these communities,” Ehosa said
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, commended the donor for the initiative and the State government would monitor it to ensure compliance with the grants’ terms.
Hon. Adeleye who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Adejumoke Adewole, said the intervention aligned with the state government’s initiative on women empowerment, urging individuals and organisations to partner with government to life women and vulnerable members of the society out of poverty.
