Women urged to remain resilient, turn challenges into opportunities

Women have been urged to stay resilient and committed to their passions, turning challenges into opportunities and paving the way for personal triumph and societal transformation.

President Committee of Friends for humanity (COFFHA), Augustina Igbogwe made the call while speaking at the organisation’s annual Thanks giving service held in Lagos.

Igbokwe who is a legal practitioner emphasised that women deserve recognition for their significant contributions to family and national development.

On the annual Thanks giving service, the legal practitioner explained that the event was a fitting occasion, providing prospects for the members to express gratitude to God Almighty for the past year’s blessings.

“So at the beginning of every year we commit our programmes and activities into God hands seeking for directions and also thanking God for the previous year.”

Highlighting the organisation’s 35–year history, the legal practitioner, noted that COFFHA has made significant strides across Nigeria, positively impacting countless lives.

According to her: “We have financially empowered many market women and those selling on the streets, providing ongoing support through digital training, mentorship, and accounting guidance.”

On the criteria for the selection of women to be empowered, she explained that applicants must be women with an existing business, demonstrating potential for growth and clear plan for how the support would be utilised.

“Additionally, the organisation would prioritise businesses with untapped potential online, particularly those not yet leveraging social media and digital platforms. By encouraging their participation in digital, advertising, COFFAH aims to expand their reach, increase visibility, and ultimately boost their earnings.”

On the strategies put in place in ensuring that the money and training giving to them they properly utilised, she said that COFFAH Committee visits businesses wherever they are, goes through their record books, their store and their goods and encourage those who don’t have stores to get one.”

On the challenges facing women in small scale businesses in Nigeria, she said: “these women sell their products under the sun and rain, toiling morning and night to make ends meet with little funds, banks would not give them loan because they don’t have collateral and people would even look down on them thinking that what they are doing is not profitable.

“Moreover, the profits generated from their entrepreneurial ventures enable them to contribute substantially to the well-being of their families and the nation, fostering economic growth and stability.

“This lack of finance and recognition often undermines the confidence of these women, discouraging them from pursuing their goals and realising their full potentials.

However, she advocated for equal opportunities for men and women, stating that this would enable women to reach their full potentials.

She emphasised the importance of parents treating their children equally, encouraging girls to explore various interest and boys to share household responsibilities, rather than assigning traditional gender roles.

Co – founder of COFFHA, Carol Ufere who spoke at the event, noted that throughout the 35–year history, the organisation has implemented various humanitarian initiatives addressing societal needs.

Ufere added that some of these initiatives include: refurbishing of the LASUTH ward B children’s ward, refurbishment of the women’s ward at Apapa Medical Centre and purchase of a 20kva generator for the ward, building and equipping the emergency unit of the Isolo General Hospital, purchase of a dialysis machine at the Gbagada General Hospital amongst others.