In rural communities women especially widows are treated with little or no respect if they are unable to meet responsibilities imposed on them. This responsibilities often emerge from their in laws, family members, community leaders and members of the society, because much is expected of them . As a result of this they are mostly concerned about starting up a trade or doing menial jobs if they do not have access to a farm land.
Sometimes circumstances force women to give their children up for abduction,house-help, apprenticeship, hoping they would have access to educational aide, and basic needs.
Many parents marry off their girls to escape catering for her needs and meeting responsibilities.
Male children often go into farming, and sometimes hawking to meet ends need.
This scenario has not been favorable for so many families and children as they are often victims of domestic violence, abuse, poor nutrition, disparity in education, sexual harassment to mention a few.
When it comes to women efforts in running or starting their various businesses all conditions are likely to become rigid and frustrating as they sometimes allow themselves to be overwhelmed by their problems and emotions.
This in turn can have a negative impact on their business, affect their customer base, and goods turn over.
It is of paramount importance for women to be trained and taught emotional intelligence ,business management and finance, it often becomes an unbearable challenge if they are unable to carry out business activities successfully.
The knowledge of this can help women to manage crisis resulting from gender differences, making integrity based decisions regarding their female children and becoming the change they want to see in their community.
In the light of this, their is a need to empower women and support them at all times, to accomplish this mission MPDI,
The initiative had decided to focus more on women empowerment in 2016 by creating an environment for SME “small medium enterprising” that will empower and train women, more on how to manage their businesses, and will also support women that needs a start-up capital for business, through the co-operative society.
on the topic “Overcoming Business Challenges” spoke majorly on conditions leading to collapse in businesses. Some of the issues mentioned are:
The guest speaker of the day, Mrs, Stephany Nwanmah
The manner of approach to customers: she said complementing your customer and wearing a cheerful look when approaching a customer can make him/her purchase your goods even when he/she does not have need nor interested in buying.
Sipasi Olalekan an agricultural consultant was invited to enlighten them more on neighbourhood agriculture and how necessary it is for women to engage in it.In order to support feeding in the family.
The cooperative society meeting was also introduced as a means of financial empowerment.
women with the potential to influence others were selected to be trained on how they can empower themselves and others
Food items were also distributed as the meeting came to a close.
During our 5th meeting /follow up on agricultural neighbourhood farming , we got testimonies from the women who had put the agricultural teaching into practice confesses they were able to feed and meet some of their financial obligations.
Medical volunteered team also came to speak on health matters and also assisted to check there health status while drugs were prescribed accordingly.
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Six (6) women were empowered according to their area of business, four women were supported with drinks and noodles to support their petty trading, one woman was supported with 60 liters of kerosene to start up again her collapsed business and one woman was supported with cash to revive her yam selling business.
Mrs. Rabiu Latifat, a widow from Mowe community, Mrs. Modinat Olabisi, a widow from Mowe community, Enilolobo Folashade, a widow from Pakuro community, Mrs. Adebayo Janet a widow from Ibafo community.
Mrs. Iyabo Adisa not a widow but single parent from Ibafo received 60 Litters of Kerosene product to revive her collapsed Kerosene business. And Mrs Adedeji Yemisi also a widow from Ibafo received a monetary support to finance her yam business.
All these presentations were done by the guest speaker Mrs Stephany , Nwanmah who also admonished each of the beneficiaries to make judicious use of every item presented to them, so it can better their lots and then advised MPDI director to set up a monitoring team towards ensuring that every beneficiary make use of the items given to them for the purpose of which they were given and how it is helping to improve their financial status.
Other women/widows in attendance also received gift/food items.
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