The Ike Odoeme Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has financially empowered physically challenged women and widows to enable them start up businesses for sustenance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGO empowered the women as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day, in Owerri, on Friday.
The 2025 IWD has the theme: “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”, and is celebrated annually on March 8.
Speaking during the event, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Ms Sylvie Marie said that the organisation’s religion is humanity, hence its commitment to uplifting less advantaged people.
She said that in July, the foundation would build a house a widow, Mrs Eucharia Iwu, who already received the sum of N200,000 to fix her leaking roof.
Also, physically challenged women received sums of not less than N200,000 each for business startups.
This, Marie said, would be a continuation of the NGO’s humanitarian gestures as according to her, the NGO, in 2024, financed the medical bills of 20 women who underwent In Vitro Fertilisation procedures among other life changing empowerments.
“We will continue to impact lives of the vulnerable members of the society, the widows, less privileged and provide health and educational support to women and girl children for better acquisition of skills”.
“Last year, the foundation championed several initiatives including provision of 50 million Naira economic empowerment themed “Project Mount” through Zenith bank where we supported 200 women and 40 youth for business and farming ventures.
She assured of the organization’s commitment to supporting the less privileged such as women living with disabilities and widows.
She called on governments at all levels to enforce laws that protect women’s rights.
She also urged organisations to prioritise women’s inclusion in leadership roles adding that society must challenge stereotypes and cultural practices that limit women.
“At the Ike Odoeme Foundation, we are not just talking, we are doing.
“ We are here to support women economically, educationally, and socially so they can rise above limitations.
“To our men, women’s empowerment is not a women’s issue; it is a societal issue. When women thrive, families, communities, and economies thrive “, she said.
She expressed the hope that with all hands on deck, actions can be accelerated to build a stronger future for women where stereotypes and glass ceilings barring women are pulled down.