Get Guardian on GoogleThe Gbonse Foundation has pledged to expand its financial empowerment and community development programmes to reach more people, following its first year of operation, during which it recorded 261 clients and 300 members.
Established in October 2025, the foundation said it would strengthen its interventions in women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, healthcare, welfare and education as it begins its second year.
Operating across Igando, Egan, Odo, Ikotun and Ijegun communities in Lagos State, the organisation has supported individuals, families, market traders, church members and schoolchildren through various initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and addressing community needs.
At its first anniversary celebration in Lagos, Imafidon Omorodion, a business leader from the foundation’s head office, highlighted its efforts to empower women through accessible loans and financial literacy programmes.
She said the initiatives were designed to help women grow their businesses, increase household incomes and improve their living conditions.
Omorodion said the foundation had made progress through its engagement with market associations and trade unions but acknowledged that many prospective beneficiaries were yet to benefit from its programmes.
“Though we are doing well, we know that there is still quite a large number of prospective beneficiaries that have not been reached,” she said.
She identified reaching the right beneficiaries and ensuring loan repayment as some of the challenges encountered during the foundation’s first year.
According to her, some beneficiaries fail to use borrowed funds for their intended business purposes, making repayment difficult when loans fall due.
She urged beneficiaries to embrace responsible borrowing, manage their businesses prudently and avoid taking loans beyond their repayment capacity.
In a statement commemorating the anniversary, the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Helen Olaniyan, expressed appreciation to its members, clients, partners and staff for their contributions to the organisation’s growth.
She said the foundation’s interventions in community healthcare, welfare support and accessible loan services reflected its determination to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Olaniyan also praised the staff for their dedication and teamwork, describing the anniversary as an opportunity to renew the foundation’s commitment to reaching more people and deepening its impact in the communities it serves.
Sharing her experience, a shoe seller and small-scale entrepreneur, Enalinhian Maureen, said access to low-interest loans from the foundation had helped her expand her business and sustain her trading activities.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries in her group, Maureen said the foundation’s loan scheme offered a more affordable source of funding compared with the rates charged by some microfinance institutions.
She added that members of her group had continued to access the facility because of its relatively low interest rates and manageable repayment terms.
The foundation said it hoped to build on the achievements of its first year by extending its programmes to more individuals and households, particularly women and small business owners who need financial support to improve their livelihoods.
