HUFFPED Empowers Over 450 Women in Lagos with Support from French Embassy

By Dayo Emmanuel

A non-governmental organisation, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), has empowered more than 450 women in trade and vocational businesses in Lagos.

The empowerment programme, which coincided with activities marking International Women’s Day, was held on Tuesday at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Hall, Ikeja, Lagos.

The initiative, supported by the Embassy of France in Nigeria, is aimed at strengthening the economic capacity of women across communities in Lagos State.

Speaking at the event, a representative of the French Embassy, Pierre Louis Bonnel, highlighted the support his country has been providing to civil society organisations in Nigeria.

“The French Embassy has been supporting civil society organisations in Nigeria. This support is both in financial support and also in capacity building. From 2024 to 2026 the French Embassy has been supporting more than 20 civil society organisations across Nigeria with projects that bother on gender equality between men and women and economic empowerment for women and girls across Nigeria,” he said.

Bonnel explained that the gathering was significant because it followed weeks of activities around International Women’s Day.

“Today it is very important that I am here because we are in the week in the aftermath of the 8th of March which is the International Women’s Day. After months and months of projects, we can see here today there are tens and tens of women gathered and we are glad to celebrate them.

“We are glad to see how they have been economically empowered and how they have developed their businesses and what they have been achieving so far and also to celebrate their resilience and the support of HUFFPED,” he explained.

He noted that the beneficiaries had already demonstrated the ability to make informed decisions about their economic future.

“I don’t think I want to advise today. I think they found their ways and I think that is the best way. I can see some of them have the capacity to know what is best for them and the capacity to take decisions. Now that they have economic power, they can develop their strategies on what they think they want.

“I met them in their homes in their Local Government Areas. They explained what their difficulties were and now they are saying what their plans are in one or two years, how they want to expand their businesses and employ more hands. They know what is best for them and they know how they can dream bigger and I am happy to see this,” he said.

On the sustainability of the initiative, Bonnel emphasised the importance of long-term empowerment rather than dependence.

“It is not all about a one-off thing but we cannot be supporting permanently in an economic project. The key is sustainability. If you talk with HUFFPED and other civil society organisations, they will tell you how they have strategised on the projects such that if the project doesn’t continue, these women are empowered to generate more money.

“The goal is not how to make one civil society organisation only beneficiary dependent on one partnership. It is the opposite, we give autonomy to women and girls and autonomy to civil society organisations to build partnerships so that people have many opportunities and today we are witnessing it,” he added.

Executive Director of HUFFPED, Mr. Henry Adenigba, said the empowerment was part of a project known as Household Economy Strengthening and Resilience (HEAR).

“We are here to give out support to the marginalised people we have been working with on the project by the French Embassy called Household Economy Strengthening and Resilience (HEAR). We are giving them support to boost the businesses or vocations they are already engaged in,” he said.

According to him, the programme had run for about a year and included extensive training and monitoring.

“We have about 450 beneficiaries today. We already gave them advice before now because this project has been on for one year. There have been many capacity building interventions and among them we have community workers who are monitoring and evaluating their progress,” he explained.

He stated further that beneficiaries received equipment and materials suited to their trades.

“For those dealing in food materials we are giving them items to boost their businesses. Some in garment making are receiving sewing machines while others who already have machines are getting stoning tools to make stone accessories and beautify the garments they make. Some are selling soft drinks, so we are giving them support materials. It is not charity; we are supporting what they are already doing so they can support their families,” Adenigba said.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Finance and Administration at HUFFPED, Mrs. Adekemi Adeyeye, advised beneficiaries to protect and grow their capital.

“My advice is that they should not eat up their capital but expand their business so when we call for evaluation they will be happy to show progress.

“We are giving them many equipment such as sewing machines, stoning equipment and hair dressing tools. After now they will continue their work while we continue monitoring and training them,” she said, while thanking the French Embassy for its support.

Some beneficiaries also shared their experiences with the programme.

“I am Oluwaseun Abibat. I am so excited to be here today. I look forward to seeing more. I appreciate the organisers because they have taken us through trainings on financial independence and savings.

“I am a barber for both male and female. The programme was brought to our community at Agbede in Ikorodu and I started attending their meetings and saving money through the scheme,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Jimoh Rashidat, a food vendor, said the initiative had helped her expand her business.

“I am a food seller. HUFFPED has tried for me through its Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA), scheme. I took a loan of N150,000 in our group; Progressive Somolu Bajulaiye. I added it to my business and I benefited.

“I pray that God will bless the organisation and those who organised the scheme,” she said.

Similarly, Adeniran Modinot Funmilayo from Koshofe said she had benefited from financial literacy training and community savings initiatives.

“They gave us training on financial literacy, marketing and VSLA which is Village Savings and Loan Association. It is a community scheme where we invest every month and people can request loans.

“I have taken loans about five or six times to support my business and pay my children’s school fees. I appreciate HUFFPED for the opportunities given to us in financial literacy, record keeping, savings and business management,” she said.