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In a bid to empower and improve the quality of life of widows and their dependents, the Katalog Charity Foundation recently extended a helping hand to them, providing business grants and free accommodation for select widows in Ijora-Badia area of Lagos State.
Speaking at the official launch of the foundation in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder, Dr. Vivian Akaenyi, said her aim was to improve the living conditions of widows and make life worth living for them.
Akaenyi, who said she started the foundation informally almost a decade ago, said she recently decided to make it formal and structured by registering it and bringing other people on board to further actualise her goals.
Noting that she loves seeing people smile, she stated that poverty was on the rise in the country; hence she had to go beyond giving people money, clothes and food on the streets to really make a difference.
“If the people you are trying to help are not properly empowered and guided, they will waste whatever you are giving them because they don’t know better.
“So we decided to move from basic street empowerment and get them off the streets first; provide an affordable apartment and help them settle by paying a two-year rent upfront. After this, we support them with starting a business that will help them make a living,” she added.
The philanthropist, who emphasised that she has been supporting widows for almost a decade from her personal savings, said the government must go beyond lip service to actually providing support for widows and indigent women.
“I lost my dad a few years ago and from my sadness, I started this as a way to immortalise his memory and it blossomed from there. We have picked 10 women to help but we are starting off with five. After they are settled, we will move to the next five. Getting them help is not as easy as one may think as it is not everyone that is open to being helped and I assist only those that show interest,” she said.
She also explained that she does not give the beneficiaries the money directly but rather opens businesses for them, under the close watch of the Katalog Care Centre.
She disclosed that the Widows Nest arm of the foundation provides shelter to the widows and their children. “The accommodation comes furnished with foodstuffs and utensils,” she added.
Co-founder of the foundation, Anthony Abakporo, said he was happy they were focusing on widows and the girl-child, noting that the former is often forgotten in the society.
While praising Akaenyi for funding the initiative with her personal funds for many years, he said the foundation has received support from some companies and individuals, which would help it to get accommodation for more widows.
“We will keep showing our sponsors what we do with their funds, including providing accommodation and business support for the widows. Hopefully, more people come on board to support this worthy initiative,” he said.
Children of the widows who got a Point of Sale (POS) machine each and N100, 000 to start a business included Blessing Gabriel, Gloria Uzoruike, Great Akor, Lilian Olajide and Solomon David.
The widows that got accommodation include Oluwakemi Ayeloru, Hannah Adamah. While Mama Iyabo and Lilian Ngozi Egeonu got N300, 000 to expand their businesses, Madam Egeonu who trades in second hand clothing got N250, 000 to also boost her business.
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