In a bid to rid the society of poverty, especially among the female gender in Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation under the auspices of Association of Female Artisans Worldwide, Nigeria, AOFAW, led by its National President, Dr. Jumoke Aborode, has taken it upon itself to empower all groups of skilled women Artisans in the Country through financial assistance, establishing Skills Acquisition Centres and Commercial Hub for them to perform their trades.
The National Matron of the Association Of Female Artisans, AOFAW, 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 Artists, and other female dominant skills would make them to contribute meaningfully to national development and be self sufficient in the Society, saying the Association has been assisting young women economically to enhance their livelihood.
She added that, the empowerment programme is targeting every Women all over the 36 States of the Federation, who will need to form groups in line with their skills so that they would have access to affordable grants and trainings.
Dr. Afolashade Shona stated that the Association has some Centres in Ondo State already where many women are benefitting from the gesture extended to them by the Association of Female Artisans Worldwide, Nigeria, urging other States to be expecting same in the interest of all.
The National Matron of AOFAW noted that, the Association is also sponsoring some young women to College of Education on Scholarship 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 also advised women to always strive for the best in the society, irrespective of background and status, saying 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 what the Association is doing is through self efforts 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, Government needs to work on the Naira Depreciation to Dollars which she said has contributed to the current economic challenges confronting the nation while citizens are suffering to make ends meet.
Dr. Mrs Shona appealed to the Traders and Artisans to be moderate without adding to the unnecessary prices to the goods they purchased at a very lower rate.
In another development, Dr. Afolashade Shona was recently Honoured with an Award as the Business Woman of the Year at City People Awards for Excellence 2024 held in Lagos State, which is in addition to many other Awards she has received in various areas including education, and service to humanity.
She appreciated her husband for being an ever supportive man in her life, describing her as the Pillar of Support, the Kabiyesi who always encourages her to do more for humanity, with a promise not to relent but rather, she will continue to contribute to the progress and prosperity of humanity.
The Multiple Award Winning Entrepreneur, Manufacturer, Lover of Children and Human Capital Development, Dr. Afolashade Shona who is also the Yeye Atorise of Ikeja High School, Lagos, is a business leader with zero tolerance for low performance whose business interests include Amusement Parks and Food items manufacturing.