… Beneficiaries get tricycles, motorcycles, business start-up kits

No fewer than 600 women, young girls, and persons with disabilities have completed an intensive entrepreneurial training programme organised by the Jummy iCare Foundation in Akure, Ondo State capital.

The beneficiaries and participants drawn from various parts of the state were trained in bag making, soap making, sewing, and other vocational trades.

During the graduation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mrs Olajumoke Abegunde, presented working tools to all graduands to enable them to start their businesses, while nine outstanding participants received special prizes.

Six of the top performers, Abebi Bukola, Morenike Falohun, Omolola Omofemiwa, and Alomaja Titilayo, were awarded electric tricycles, while Ejifoor Juliana, Omoyemi Oluwaleke, and Bolanle Adeniji received electric motorcycles for their exceptional performance.

Abegunde explained that the foundation was born from a belief that humanity progresses when people care enough to help others and that the organisation’s motto reflects a commitment to identifying needs and responding to them while helping people discover their inherent strengths.

She stated, “When you empower a woman, you do not empower one person alone. You strengthen a family, you educate children, you improve communities, and ultimately you build a nation.”

Abegunde acknowledged the federal government’s emphasis on women’s inclusion in national development, noting that when women are given space and opportunity, Nigeria becomes stronger.

Speaking to journalists after the event, Abegunde clarified that her philanthropic efforts were driven by service to humanity and not by political ambitions, adding that she had evolved from giving fish to teaching people how to fish for themselves.

The Executive Director of Corporate Services at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, who attended the event, urged beneficiaries to take the skills seriously and utilise the tools to improve their livelihoods, expressing hope that they would achieve progress within one to two years.

The Olowo of Owo and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, commended Mrs Abegunde for the initiative and called on other philanthropists to emulate such efforts to eradicate poverty and create a well-ordered society.

Dr Israel Olajumoke, CEO of House of Destiny, delivered a lecture on profitable entrepreneurship, urging Nigerians to embrace business regardless of academic qualifications and advising beneficiaries to transform their skills into global brands through proper packaging and innovation.

Several hearing-impaired beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Mrs Abegunde for accepting them uninvited, revealing that they had expected rejection but were instead registered and trained alongside others, and they presented a gift to the Foundation CEO in appreciation.

A new initiative, “Boys To Men”, was launched to train and empower young men, with Owolabi Olorunfemi, Adesida Emmanuel, and Bashorun Oladapo Shofowora appointed as midwives for the programme, which aims to raise a generation of men of character, purpose, and influence.

Shofowora explained that the initiative would equip young men with leadership skills, values, and mentorship through structured programmes and community engagement to foster responsibility and purposeful living.