RoSF Partners to Train 300 Widows

A non-profit making organisation (NGO), Rose of Sharon Foundation has partnered Yabatech College of Technology, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, StreSERT Services, FADAN, Women in Technical Education and others to provide succour to widows across Nigeria and the rest of the world in its programmes.

According to the NGO, its training and entrepreneurship programmes are in consonance with its mission and values which seek to respond to the challenges faced by widows, their children and orphans as well as empowering them with economically viable vocational skills and business management techniques to improve their earnings.

Speaking at the empowerment programme tagged: “RoSF Enterprise Development Training and Skills Acquisition Programme”, the Founder, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija said if you empower a woman, you have empowered a whole family and by extension, the world.

She expressed worries that in some countries all over the world, women, at the demise of their husbands, are subjected to horrendous experiences such as: they are forced to drink the water from their husbands’ corpses to prove their innocence of his death, their husbands’ properties and monies being taken away from them and neglect of the widow and her children to fend for themselves.

She further as a result, women resorting to begging in order to take care of themselves and their children, increased levels of truancy and gangsterism as some go wayward in the absence of a father figure.

“Our empowerment programmes are structured to provide business and life support services to widows who become the principal providers for their families. It also for orphans when and where required. We work to create the conditions they need to lead lives with a reasonable degree of stability, support and resources to take care of their basic needs. To find satisfaction in life, raise and educate their children successfully.” Alakija promised.

She added that the foundation is ready to deliver the empowerment programmes through seven initiatives: Rose of Sharon Micro Credit Scheme, Enterprise development programme/skills Acquisition training, small and medium enterprise, RoSF life support scheme, Agric-business scheme, Legal support services and RoSF Shelter programme.

Alakija further highlighted that the enterprise development programme/skills acquisition training has benefited over 600 participants immensely. And this has in turn improved the living condition of over 2,400 people. Today, we have about 300 women who will be undergoing training in different vocations of their choice and at the end of these skills transfer program; they will be empowered with loans to start up their businesses.

She, however, enclosed that the handiwork of participants from this training will be exhibited during the Rose of Sharon Foundation Christmas Party for widow and orphans come December 9th, at Yaba College of Technology.

In his remarks, Deputy Rector of Yabatech, Dr. Raheem Omobayo appreciated Mrs. Alakija for the work well done by investing in our country and people despite the economic downturn caused by some greedy individuals who are ridden with corruption and self-centeredness.