Over 200 widows and vulnerable women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to be empowered through Project Arise, an initiative of the Sey-Cecilia Foundation, launched in partnership with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA).

The one-week intensive program, running from February 9 to 13, 2026, is designed to equip participants with practical business skills, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support, enabling them to build sustainable livelihoods and achieve long-term economic independence.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Oluwaseye Babatunde, founder of the Sey-Cecilia Foundation, emphasized the urgency of empowering women amid rising living costs, limited access to capital, and shrinking livelihood opportunities.

“Project Arise represents our belief that when women are given the right tools, training, and support systems, they do not only improve their own lives—they uplift entire communities,” Babatunde said.

The program combines hands-on vocational training with foundational business education, mentorship, and enterprise development support. Beneficiaries will receive training in market-relevant trades such as soap making, confectionery production, andleatherwork, among others, alongside guidance in basic business management to help them structure and sustain their enterprises.

Babatunde also highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships, noting that collaboration with institutions such as the Abuja Enterprise Agency is critical for scaling impact and ensuring practical, lasting outcomes for participants.

In his remarks, De Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, Managing Director of AEA, commended the foundation for its timely intervention, describing Project Arise as a beacon of hope for women in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He pledged the agency’s technical, institutional, and logistical support to ensure participants gain maximum benefit from the program.

The initiative aims not only to enhance short-term income opportunities but also to strengthen long-term economic resilience, enabling participants to access markets, run sustainable micro-businesses, and contribute meaningfully to local economies.

The Sey-Cecilia Foundation is a Nigerian non-profit committed to advancing the social and economic empowerment of underserved women and vulnerable communities across the country.