Bolaji Obabiyi (intern)
The Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WACCIMA), South-West zone, has proposed, a regional empowerment programme known as Igbokowo Initiative aimed at equipping girls and young women with skills, opportunities and networks to become economically independent and future leaders.
Penpushing reports that, the initiative was presented during a meeting between the Chamber South-West Coordinator, Deaconess Cynthia Saka, and Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Commerce and Cooperatives Prof. Abdul-Waheed Adelabu, alongside Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, led by Mrs. Adesina Modupe Oluwafunmilayo.
The proposed programme, tagged “Empowering the Girl Child for Leadership, Enterprise and Sustainable Development in South-West Nigeria,” is designed to support girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 25 across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States.
Penpushing further reports that Saka, speaking during the meeting explained that the initiative would go beyond conventional training by creating a platform where young women can acquire relevant skills, access mentorship, develop businesses and connect with opportunities.
The South West Coordinator explained that the chamber was seeking the support of the Oyo State Government to establish a regional office in the state, which would serve as a central hub for the programme and accommodate participants from other South-West states.
“The area we are highly interested in partnering with you is that you assist us mostly to get a space in the centre, which is Oyo State, whereby all other states will be coming in. We are going to put our regional office in Oyo State so that whenever other states are coming, they will have their own separate office in-house in Oyo State.” Saka said.
Penpushing also reports that she added that the facility would serve as a training, vocational, networking and business development centre where beneficiaries would be equipped with entrepreneurial and professional skills.
“The initiative will not be positioned simply as another girl-child training programme. Its ambition is broader: to create a South-West ecosystem where girls and young women can acquire skills, develop confidence, access networks, secure opportunities, build enterprises and emerge as the next generation of business, professional and community leaders,” she said.
Penpushing reports that Igbokowo Initiative, which is proposed as a 24-month pilot programme with potential for expansion, will focus on education and career development, digital skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, leadership, mentorship, employability, innovation, access to finance and personal development.
The programme will adopt a tiered approach, with Category A targeting girls between ages 15 and 18 through education support, confidence building, digital literacy, career awareness, leadership training and entrepreneurship exposure.
Penpushing further reports that another category will focus on young women in transition, providing employability skills, professional development, internship opportunities, entrepreneurship support and digital skills needed for economic advancement.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Abdul-Waheed Adelabu, in response advised the organisation to formally write a request letter, which would enable the ministry to engage relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and the Oyo State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OYCCIMA).
Penpushing also reports that that Adelabu encouraged the group to begin with available resources, noting that many successful organisations started from small beginnings before expanding into larger establishments.
The Commissioner emphasizes and assured that the Oyo state government would consider ways of supporting the initiative, including providing access to facilities where possible.
“If you have one, two or three things in place, whether government connected or business related, then we begin to think of how we explore. Even if it is an ordinary right of use, you can start from somewhere. Many people started with one small room and eventually got a big headquarters,” he said.
Penpushing report that the Saka led team also held discussions with the Director of Women Programme, Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mr. Olutoye Diya Ogunjimi, as part of efforts to build partnerships for the successful implementation of the initiative.
The other executives of Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WACCIMA), in attendance at the meeting include Mrs. Olujide(First Deputy), Mrs. Alabi Olawumi (Ogbomosho Coordinator) Mrs. Kikelomo (Deputy Treasurer,) Mrs. Juliet (member) and Justina Fakehinde (Oduaccima Staff)
Penpushing further reports that the meeting ended with chamber presenting a gift to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, as the organisation expressed commitment to building a sustainable platform that would empower young women across the South-West region.
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