The Association of Female Artisans Worldwide (AOFAW) in Nigeria has empowered all groups of skilled women artisans through financial assistance.
The Non-Governmental Organisation, led by its National President, Dr. Jumoke Aborode, 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 live radio programme in Lagos.
Dr Shona said empowering Nigerian women artisans in tailoring, catering, hairdressing, makeup, and other female-dominant skills would make them meaningful to national development and be self-sufficient in society. She added that the association has been assisting young women economically in enhancing their livelihood.
She disclosed that the empowerment programme targets every woman in the 36 federation states. Women must form groups aligned with their skills to access affordable grants and training.
Dr. Afolashade Shona stated that the association already has some centres in Ondo State where many women benefit from its extended kind gestures. She urged other states to expect the same gesture.
The AOFAW’s matron revealed that the association is also sponsoring some young women to college education to contribute to national development, devoid of crimes and criminality caused by women due to a lack of poverty or idleness.
She advised women to strive for the best in society, regardless of their background and status. She emphasised that women can stand out in society and become a formidable force by being hard-working, intelligent, diligent, and trustworthy.
She added that the association’s only mission is to boost the self-esteem of like-minded people who want society to be a better place for women to live and prosper.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist criticized the hike in commodity prices in markets across the country and said the government needs to address the Naira depreciation, which she said has contributed to the current economic challenges confronting the nation while citizens struggle to make ends meet.
Dr. Shona then appealed to the traders and artisans to moderate 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 award was in addition to many others she had received in various areas, including education and service to humanity.
She appreciated her husband for being an ever-supportive man, 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 society.
