Women in FCT get cash, sewing, grinding machines

Women from across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its neighbouring towns benefited from the operations of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sure Smiles Women and Children Advocacy Initiative, through a lucky dip at the weekend.
The lucky dip was packaged as one of its programmes titled ‘Touch a Soul’ at the Kauran Market, Abuja, on Saturday as the fortunate women took home sewing machines, grinding machines and cash donations to some to help them start up businesses.
Sure Smile Coordinator, Mrs. Chioma Uzo Odegbuna, said the idea was borne out of the fact that some FCT women were really poor and can’t take care of themselves.
She said: “I discovered that some of them don’t really go to school, maybe that’s why they are where they are, some of them have kids out of wedlock and you know what that situation can bring, I have one that is ill, her husband left her and she said she want to be strong and wants to do something that will be bringing her money so that she can really take care of herself and when you see her you know that she is really ill.
“Some gave us their business plan; we will give them the small money as a take-off grant. So, they are going to do lucky dip, we have grinding machines, sewing machines and some cash.”
However, Mrs. Odegbuna, said the government was doing its best, “but can’t do it alone; that is why we have come up with ‘Touch a Soul’ this is phase one, we are expecting the second phase to be bigger.”
One of the guest lectures, who spoke on empowerment, Mrs. Okeneru Steve, said, the women don’t know that they really don’t need much as capital to start a business.
“I want the women to really know that the world is not only for the men to go out there to make money, we can actually help and assist in our own little way.
“I have come to tell the women that business doesn’t mean that I have to have one million or three million naira, there are things within us that you can use to start up to get some money to assist our husbands for those of us that are married or help our kids, for those that are widows.”
She decried the attitude of some women, saying that “nowadays, women are not ready to struggle, they are not ready to work extra miles to have an extra gain. They are looking at that already made type of business.”
One of the beneficiaries, a single parent, Grace Amidu, who won a sewing machine, said: “I feel great, I am really excited. Actually, I am not doing anything because I have walked everywhere to search for job but I couldn’t get any because of my baby.”