The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has launched the Olowu Hope Initiative (OHI) Women Empowerment Fund, a flagship programme designed to transform the Owu Kingdom and serve as a model for community development across Nigeria.

The initiative, founded by His Royal Majesty, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, Olowu of Owu Kingdom, builds on a successful pilot scheme and is targeted at reaching more than 50,000 women in its first decade, as part of an ambitious plan to impact one million lives through four interconnected pillars of empowerment.

At the launch, the minister commended Oba Matemilola for what she described as a deep and practical commitment to grassroots development.

She assured that the Federal Government would stand firmly in support of the programme.

“It represents exactly the kind of grassroots empowerment that transforms societies. We will ensure this initiative touches the lives of every woman in Owu Kingdom and beyond,” she said.

For Oba Matemilola, the vision is one of legacy and transformation. He explained that the OHI was designed to move beyond traditional charity by providing women not only with rights but also the resources and respect to shape their own futures.

“The Olowu Hope Initiative is not merely a programme; it is a legacy-defining movement. True empowerment does not just entail giving women rights but also the resources to shape their destinies. A world that empowers women is a world that moves forward, more just, more prosperous, and more humane,” he said.

The governance structure of the initiative is designed to ensure transparency and sustainability. The Board of Trustees is led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Balogun of Owu Kingdom, serving as Grand Patron.

Other members include Oba Matemilola, Dr Mutiu Sunmonu, Aare Tony Attah and Aare Chike Nwosu. The Advisory Board, chaired by Dr Sunmonu, draws membership from top professionals across sectors, including energy, business, education and community leadership, tasked with translating the vision into concrete, long-term impact.

Sunmonu said the board’s role was to ensure that each pillar thrives sustainably.
“This is about creating lasting legacies, not short-term solutions,” he stressed. The four pillars cover microcredit and economic empowerment, vocational training, education and health, each supported by trustees and management teams working under the board’s direction.

Central to the launch is the Women Empowerment Fund, described as the “engine room” of the initiative.

Chaired by Dr Akintoye Akindele, with members including Stephenie Coker Rank and Olori Adijat Bamidele Matemilola, the fund will provide interest-free loans, business support and capacity building in partnership with World Citizen. Its goal is to empower 50,000 women within the next five to ten years.

The chairperson said the fund is about more than providing capital. “Our mission is to empower women with the means to grow their businesses and inspire others. This fund is an investment in Nigeria’s most untapped resource, our women. The ripple effects on our economy and society will be monumental,” Akindele said.

The founder of the initiative emphasised that the pilot phase demonstrated the model’s success, and with stronger governance and partnerships now in place, the programme is poised for wider impact. The fund will operate on a two-tiered model, combining financial capital and support capital such as pro-bono services and donated goods to maximise reach and sustainability.

The ripple effect of empowering 50,000 women, according to the initiative, will extend far beyond business. It is expected to stimulate local economies, create markets, improve family nutrition, expand access to healthcare, and enhance educational opportunities for children, ultimately breaking cycles of poverty and fostering generational change.