The Association of Female Artisans Worldwide (AOFAW) in Nigeria has empowered all groups of skilled women artisans in the country through financial assistance.
The Non-Governmental Organisation, led by its National President, Dr. Jumoke Aborode also established skills acquisition centres and commercial hubs to perform their trades. This was to rid the society of poverty, especially among the female gender in Nigeria.
The National Matron of the Association, Dr. Afolashade Shona disclosed this while fielding questions on a Radio live programme in Lagos.
Dr Shona said empowering Nigerian women artisans in tailoring, catering, hairdressing, makeup, and other female-dominant skills would make them contribute meaningfully to national development and be self-sufficient in the society. She added that the Association has been assisting young women economically to enhance their livelihood.
She disclosed that the empowerment programme is targeting every woman in the 36 states of the federation, who will need to form groups in line with their skills to have access to affordable grants and trainings.
Dr. Afolashade Shona stated that the Association already has some centres in Ondo State where many women are benefitting from its kind gestures extended. She urged other states to expect the same gesture.
The AOFAW’s Matron revealed that the Association is also sponsoring some young women to Colleges of Education as parts of ways to contribute to national development, devoid of crimes and criminality being caused by Women due to lack of poverty or idleness.
She advised women to always strive for the best in society, irrespective of background and status. She explained that once they are hardworking, intelligent, diligent, and trustworthy, they would stand tall in the Society and become force to reckon with.
She added that all that the Association is doing is through self-esteem of like-minds who want the society to be a better place for women to live and prosper in it.
On the issue of hike in the prices of commodities in the Markets across the country, the entrepreneur and philanthropist said the government needs to work on the Naira depreciation which she said has contributed to the current economic challenges confronting the nation while citizens are suffering to make ends meet.
Dr. Shona then appealed to the traders and artisans to be moderate with the pricing of their services.
In another development, Dr Shona was recently honoured with the Business Woman of the Year Award at the City People Awards for Excellence 2024 held in Lagos State. This was in addition to many other awards she had received in various areas, including education and service to humanity.
She appreciated her husband for being an ever supportive man in her life, describing him as the pillar of support, who always encourages her to do more for humanity. Shona, then, promised not to relent, but rather, she would continue to contribute to the progress and prosperity of humanity.
