Source: The Nation
A non-governmental organisation, Awesome Treasure Foundation (ATF) has trained over 5000 women in such skills as baking, bead-making and several other low-capital jobs.

The effort, its founder Mrs Olajumoke Adenowo said, is to empower them by boosting their productive capacity.

Many of these women have since established their own businesses, thereby enhancing their economic independence.

“[The beneficiaries] have been empowered and have businesses of their own and seeking to empower others which has a ripple effect,” said Adenowo.

“We render business advisory services that give cutting edge information to business-oriented people.”

She said the women were trained in micro-finance skills, and that 20 girls were recently tutored in bead-making.

Adenowo was speaking at a forum tagged ‘Woman of Power’ at the AGIP Hall MUSON Centre, Lagos.

She also tried to inspire women to identify and explore their strong points.

She asked the audience: “What did God create you to do that you are running away from? People have taken jobs and made hobbies out of what they are supposed to do: their assignment.

“When you are let loose into your glory that is when you begin to manifest in your sphere of influence and you shine. What will make you shine is hidden but in prayer, you can search it out. We should pray that the Lord will open our eyes that we might see the assignment of our glory.”

In an interactive session with journalists, Adenowo, a practising architect, explained that the NGO was founded in 1999 out of her passion to impact lives and engage women and youths in the process of self and national transformation.

“My greatest achievement is the very women I see that have passed through our programmes,” she said. “They were a nobody but now they have been empowered.

“We have five focus groups namely Awesome Princesses for Gender Empowerment, Legal Resource Group where we hold seminars and symposium, Health Resources and Educational Resource Group where we focus on the youths and what pertains to them according the Millennium Development Goals. We have had three life-changing summer camps so far free of charge and their parents have applauded the impact these have made on their wards.”

A book was also unveiled at the event, titled ‘LIFESPRING, The Mothers’ Prayer Manual’ authored by the ATF founder. It was unveiled by Tara Fela-Durotoye of House of Tara and she testified that the former edition did something for her as a mother and wife. She said: “When I got a copy of the book, I could not help but marvel at the insight and scriptures outlined in the book. And as I began to use the prayer points, I saw a change in my outlook of what motherhood entails and I became a better mother, wife and in-law. I am sure this revised and updated edition will do more for mothers and mothers-to-be.” Dignitaries at the Woman Of Power event were Pastor Adesuwa Lawal, Pastor Lara, Justice Shola Williams, Ausbeth-Ajagu, Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi of LDA and Nollywood actress Stephanie Okereke.

Asked about what the future holds for ATF, Mrs Adenowo smiled and mentioned that she would like to see the work being institutionalised and having more success stories.

She said, “I feel that I’m more passionate about Nigeria than most women I have ever seen. It’s almost like a disease.

“Ever since I was young, I had been inquisitive about my country and why we are not developed like other nations. I can say I am genuinely concerned about the plight of my fellow neighbours. I want you to be the best you can be. Until we restore hope to the depraved and downtrodden, the so-called affluent will continue to worry on how to protect their wealth and properties because the ordinary man on the street sees you as an oppressor and someone that has stolen money to show off.

“If we don’t do something about their plight, they will not allow you to enjoy your wealth just like when a man threw a big stone and broke the windscreen of my friend’s jeep at Festac-town out of frustration. We should ask ourselves, what legacy are we leaving behind for the young generation? What hurts me all the time is that we just cannot do more. If we have more funds, we will be able to reach out to more people. We are planning to visit Makoko soonest, a community in Yaba which is a slum. You can imagine the stench that oozes from that place. The people there are

5000 women get NGO’s lifeline

• Nigeria