By Justina Auta
Somalisa Okocha Care Foundation (SOCA) has equipped no fewer than 150 indigent women in the FCT with entrepreneurial skills and starter packs to boost their economic independence and support their families.
They were also equipped with the right information to reduce incidences of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Ms Lisa Okocha, Co-Founder, SOCA, during a community outreach in Kpeygeyi community, an Abuja suburb, on Thursday, said the initiative was part of their activities to mark the International Women’s Day celebration.
She said, “in every small community, there is a woman who wakes up every morning with strength in her heart but uncertainty in her hands.
“She has dreams of supporting her children, contributing meaningfully to her home, and standing with dignity, yet she lacks the tools and opportunities to turn those dreams into reality.”
Okocha added that the outreach was designed to empower women at the grassroots and create a ripple effect of positive change in communities.
She explained that the foundation offers a wide range of skill acquisition programmes, including the production of soap, bleach and disinfectants, alongside training in packaging, marketing and financial literacy.
She added that beneficiaries were also trained in peanut production, packaging and sales, with guidance on product registration with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and export processes.
“When you empower one woman, you impact a community.
“So this initiative is our way of recognising the resilience, strength, and invaluable contributions of women, while also creating pathways for growth, skill development, and economic empowerment,” she said.
Okocha noted that the initiative was inclusive, attracting women from diverse religious and social backgrounds across communities in the FCT.
Beyond training, she said the foundation provides starter packs to enable participants to establish their businesses, as well as food items and clothing to support their immediate needs.
She said the foundation also integrates advocacy on women’s rights and gender-based violence, while promoting mental health awareness among participants.
“We engage women on their rights and guide them to appropriate channels for support, while also helping them manage stress and improve their mindset for better living,” she said.
Okocha added that although the foundation focuses on women, its programmes also extend to youths and men through medical outreaches and skill acquisition opportunities such as carpentry and shoemaking.
She, therefore, urged government to implement policies that support small businesses, improve access to funding and ensure quicker response to cases of GBV and human rights abuse.
She emphasised that stronger partnerships between government and NGOs would help reach underserved communities and scale up empowerment initiatives across the country.
Mrs Grace Gabriel of the Holy Mountain Church of God, a beneficiary and host of the event, expressed appreciation to the foundation for their support channeled towards assisting indigent women with skills and starter packs for financial independence.
“Majority of the beneficiaries are not our church members, but community members and they were given starter-packs to initiate their businesses.
“The selection process was without discrimination, we went round to invite women who were interested to come and benefit from this training to enable us have a source of livelihood,” she said.
Aisha Mohammed, another beneficiary, said the initiative would enable her provide financial support to her family through production and sale of items, as well as enable her teach other women the processes to begin their business.
Mrs Mary Akpira, Women Leader in the community, said with the training women will no longer complain about not having money or food in their houses or skills.
“This will even reduce conflicts caused by inadequate financial support and others within the family because women will also be able to support their families.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other items distributed include clothing and food items such as rice, beans, pasta, oils amongst others. (NAN)
