The SOCA Foundation provides FCT women with entrepreneurial skills…

The Somalisa Okocha Care Foundation (SOCA) has equipped no fewer than 150 indigent women in the FCT with entrepreneurial skills and startup packages to increase their economic independence and support their families.

They were also equipped with the right information to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence (GBV).

Mrs. Lisa Okocha, co-founder of SOCA, during a community meeting in Kpeygeyi community, a suburb of Abuja, on Thursday, said the initiative was part of their activities to mark the celebration of International Women’s Day.

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 dreams of supporting her children, contributing meaningfully to her home, and standing tall with dignity, but she lacks the tools and opportunities to make those dreams a reality.”

Okocha added that the awareness drive was designed to empower women from the grassroots and create a ripple effect of positive change in communities.

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He explained that the foundation offers a wide range of skill acquisition programmes, including soap, bleach and disinfectant making, as well as training in packaging, marketing and financial literacy.

He added that the beneficiaries were also trained on the production, packaging and sale of peanuts, with guidance on product registration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and export processes.

“When you empower a woman, you impact a community.

“So this initiative is our way of recognizing the resilience, strength and valuable contributions of women, while creating pathways to 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.

In addition to training, he said the foundation provides starter packages to enable participants to start their own businesses, as well as food and clothing to support their immediate needs.

She said the foundation also integrates advocacy for women’s rights and gender-based violence, while promoting mental health awareness among participants.

“We engage women about their rights and guide them towards appropriate channels of support, while also helping them manage stress and improve their mindset for a better life,” she said.

Okocha added that while the foundation focuses on women, its programs also extend to youth and men through medical awareness activities and skills acquisition opportunities such as carpentry and shoemaking.

She therefore urged the Government to implement policies that support small businesses, improve access to finance and ensure a quicker response to cases of gender-based violence and human rights violations.

He stressed that stronger partnerships between government and NGOs would help reach disadvantaged communities and scale up empowerment initiatives across the country.

Mrs. Grace Gabriel of the Holy Mountain Church of God, the beneficiary and host of the event, expressed appreciation to the foundation for its support channeled towards assisting indigent women with skills and starter packages for financial independence.

“Most of the beneficiaries are not members of our church, but members of the community and have received starter packages to start their businesses.

“The selection process took place without discrimination, we invited interested women to come and benefit from this training to enable us to have a source of livelihood,” she said.

Aisha Mohammed, another beneficiary, said the initiative will enable her to provide financial support to her family through the production and sale of items, as well as enable her to teach other women the processes of starting their own business.

Mrs. Mary Akpira, a female leader of the community, said that thanks to the training, women will no longer complain about not having money, food at home or skills.

“This will also reduce conflicts caused by inadequate financial and other support 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, among others

(NAN)

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