Foundation empowers widows through skills, tools, funds 

To help the less privileged, Mercy Ogbuehi Widows & Orphans Foundation has pledged to empower widows with sewing machines and others with tools and funds to bring their skills to life.

The foundation founded by Barrister Nnenna Uchegbu in honour of her late mother, Lolo Mercy Ogbuehi, aims to bridge the gap for widows, orphans, and the less privileged.

Ahead of its 15th graduation ceremony, scheduled for December 19, the foundation’s secretary, Oladipupo Uchechukwu Stephen explained: “We don’t just equip people with what to eat; we teach them how to get what to eat. It’s the essence of the proverb: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

“Since its inception, the foundation has been running free skill acquisition programs, beginning with two classes in catering and industrial training in 2017. Today, the programs have expanded to include seven to eight fields, such as fashion design, shoemaking, hairdressing, computer literacy, and more.”

Stephen noted that graduates of these programmes are equipped not just with knowledge but with tools to jumpstart their careers.

Stephen added that participants in fashion design receive sewing machines, those with computer literacy are given brand-new laptops, and catering graduates are provided with essential equipment or startup funds.

The secretary emphasised that over the past seven years, the foundation has grown into a hub of opportunity for many noting that its focus on sustainability ensures that participants not only acquire skills but also build livelihoods that last.

“The foundation also caters to the younger generation through its annual summer coaching programs. These sessions are open to orphans and children from the community, offering educational support that goes beyond the classroom. This is not just for children within the foundation but for all children in the community,” Stephen emphasised.

One of the Foundation’s Directors, Friday Ogbuehi noted that beyond education and skills training, the foundation recognises the importance of healthcare for the less privileged.

“Our medical outreach aims to attend to about 350 beneficiaries, primarily widows and orphans. These outreaches offer services like pulse, blood pressure, and blood sugar monitoring, as well as massages, dental care, and free medications.

“We ensure that every participant leaves healthier and more informed about their well-being,” Ogbuehi said.

Other major events for the year-end include the “Graduation/Christmas Party for the newly trained Widows and Orphans scheduled for December 19, 2024, and the “Shop 4 Free” scheduled for Tuesday December 17, 2024 at the Foundation Secretariat in Ikeja.

Ogbuehi noted that all the widows, orphans, and other less privileged members of the community were given access to shop without paying a dime, adding that items available include shoes, sandals, fabrics, bags, clothing, kitchen.