Aziza Development Foundation Committed To Uplifting Women, Fortifying Their Economic Standing – Mrs Okubanjo
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Executive Director and founder of the Aziza Development Foundation, Mrs Funmi Okubanjo has declared that the foundation is committed to uplifting women and fortifying their economic standing.
Mrs Okubanjo made this known while welcoming participants to a
business and financial literacy education for females to Laniba, Balogun, Sode community in Akinyẹle Local Government Area of Ibadan, held at Laniba Grammar School.
She stressed that the business and financial literacy session was aimed at arming female nano and micro-entrepreneurs with essential knowledge and skills vital for navigating the intricate terrain of business ownership and availing them easy access to soft loan
The Executive Director and founder of Aziza Development Foundation noted that the previous empowerment efforts of Mrs Toyin Adéyemí, who has been helping women with small businesses in Laniba with widows gaining access to grants, prompted her to visit the community.
According to Mrs Okubanjo, the foundation is an off-shoot of a business and financial literacy programme which she started from Radiance Features in 2021, after a large number of women were victims of investment scam by informal institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Highlighting the success rate of the foundation, she disclosed that it has served over seven local government areas, mostly in the South Western part of Nigeria from 2021 to 2023, and has worked and trained over 300 women and has also facilitated capital in terms of micro loans including a bit of grant for more than 40 women to start or grow their businesses.
Lamenting that one the greatest challenges facing the foundation is changing the mindset of women from thinking beyond political influence or support from their elected officers and recognised the fact that private entities like the Aziza Development Foundation is only there to help and not to enrich its pocket.
Commending the contributions of Budgit to the session, she stressed that Mr Adéyemí’s input was helpful in educating the women on how best to hold government officials responsible and accountable, calling on government at all levels to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Speaking during his session, Mr Ademuyiwa while enlightening the women on holding government officials accountable for required community development projects,
encouraged them to find a way to collectively put checks and balance mechanism in place for public office holders, adding that the issue of Health should be taken as utmost priority.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Baale of Laniba community, Chief Olukunmi Laniba lauded Aziza Development Foundation for bringing such beneficial programme to the town, saying it will greatly improve the business performance for the benefitting women.
Related
