Fidelity Bank PlC in collaboration with the Golden Initiative For All, GIFA, have empowered over 300 women in Akwa Ibom rural communities with business grants and other equipment to ease their means of doing business.
Items dished out to them at the empowerment programme tagged, “Give Her Power Outreach and Golden Initiative for all Women Empowerment,” held at the government house banquet hall included 50 sewing and grinding machines,500 bags of food items alongside ₦25 million grant.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Coordinator Office of the First Lady of Akwa ibom state Lady Helen Eno Obareki said women are the central drivers of the State’s economic growth adding that they needed the necessary support to succeed.
Describing the items distributed as ‘seeds of resilience, Lady Obareki expressed confidence that the women would use the funds to expand their business and boost the livelihood of their households.
She said, “We have seen time and time again that when you lift an Akwa Ibom woman, you lift an entire community. She does not just feed her household; she expands her business, hires her neighbours, and brings stability to those around her.
“We are unlocking potential. We are saying to three hundred mothers, sisters, and daughters of Akwa Ibom State: We see your hard work, we believe in your capability, and we are backing your dreams with the tools you need to succeed.’’
Giving the breakdown of the facilities, the Coordinator said, “One hundred women in the tailoring and fashion industry are leaving with professional sewing machines, ready to stitch a brighter future for their households. Another one hundred are receiving modern grinders that will transform agricultural processing into viable, everyday commercial enterprises at the local level. The last batch of one hundred women are stepping into the digital and financial mainstream, as 20 of them will receive financial empowerment alongside Point of Sale (POS) machines to bridge the gap in grassroots commerce and modern banking.
“Additionally, the remaining 80 will receive cash grants. When a market woman or trader gets access to commercial food processing equipment, professional sewing machines, and Point-of-Sale machines, her work changes completely. She stops struggling to survive day-to-day and steps into real business expansion”
She also expressed gratitude to the fidelity bank for the strategic partnership saying, “On behalf of our women, I express my sincere appreciation to Fidelity Bank Plc. When we presented this vision, Fidelity Bank stepped forward with remarkable speed and commitment, providing Twenty-Five Million Naira (₦25,000,000.00) in direct financial support along with 500 bags of food items through the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative”
In her remarks, the Executive Director, South, Fidelity bank, Mrs Pamela Shodipo said the Fidelity Bank believes that true empowerment must go beyond words but giving people the ‘tools, the capital, the opportunities and the confidence to turn their potential into possibilities and their possibilities into prosperity.’
“When you empower a woman, you do not empower just one person. You empower a family. You educate children. You strengthen communities. You create businesses. You create jobs. And ultimately, you strengthen the economy.’’ Shodipo said.
