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By Damiete Braide
Last week, the Joan Agha Foundation (JAF) celebrated exceptional Nigerian women who have been impacting the society positively, during its eighth annual lecture for women entrepreneurs. It was themed “Building the next generation entrepreneurs in innovation, talent development and excellence.”
At a well-attended ceremony in Lagos, Justice Funmilayo Asaolu was named Most Outstanding Woman in Peacemaking and Peace-building, Mrs. Abimbola Onwuchekwa got the Most Outstanding Woman in Women Empowerment award, Dr. Mercy Abu Bello was honoured as the Most Outstanding Woman in Youth Empowerment and Mrs Motunrayo Mariam Williams-Johnson bagged the Most Outstanding Woman award in Educational Scholarships to Indigent Students.
The JAF is a non-governmental organisation that addresses the needs of the indigent persons in society through education scholarships, women and youth empowerment and JAF kitchen.
In her speech at the event, Dr. Joan Agha, founder of JAF, expressed her gratitude to God for His mercies and kindness towards the foundation, for bringing JAF thus far and helping JAF to be of great impact to society.
She said: “We also express our sincere appreciation to our team of ambassadors of hope for their continued wonderful support of the foundation so far and we do not take them for granted.
“According to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Nigeria has the highest number of women entrepreneurs in the world. There are 41 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and women constitute 40 percent of this number. Yet many of these women are not operating at their peak due to limiting conditions such as lack of proper guidance, mentorship, access to rescuers, entrepreneurship and leadership skills, financial support and inadequate infrastructural development.
“As a result, women entrepreneurs in Nigeria struggle with keeping their businesses afloat. Consequent upon these realities, its an honour and privilege for women entrepreneurs to learn from successful women entrepreneurs and also get to network and collaborate or partner with one another.
“We are at JAF believe greatly in the vision of impacting the next generation of entrepreneurs in innovation, talent development and in excellence.”
Dr. Mercy Bello Abu, President, Global Convener, delivered the theme of the conference while Nwanne Okafor (Group Head, Regulatory and External Relations), Ighiwiyisi Jacobs (Director, Gallery at the Landmark), Deborah Nichol Omehuah (Non Executive Director, First World Communities Ltd) and Dr. (Mrs) Ehiremhen (Management Consultant and Researcher) participated in a panel section.
One of the awardees, Justice Asaolu, noted: “This is a gathering of women and there is nothing absolute that we want to do that we cannot achieve. Men are our backbone because if men do not support, we cannot do much. With what I do, I realize that relationship is important and it determines our successes.
“When you choose our partner, let us be sure that we share the same vision. When you share the same energy on issues and when you come together, you will succeed. But you must look inwards, what is your gift, what is that that comes naturally to you, you have to look inwards to identify it.
“To my fellow awardees, I say thank you for making positive contributions in different ways in the society. I say kudos to the organisers and thank you and I appreciate you and I pray that God will give you the grace to impact best on more people such that the people will go from strength to strength.”
Another recipient, Mrs Abimbola Onwuchekwa, said: “I dedicate this award to all the women out there who are striving to touch lives positively. If women can support women, great things will happen. And that was why I established a foundation, Women Survive Empowerment Initiative and we have been able to empower widows and single mothers. When God gives you an assignment, He gives you soldiers to support you.”
Dr. Abu said: “Women are in the forefront pushing, trying to see how they can touch the lives of women, and for organisations that recognise these efforts, I salute you. You can do a whole lot and people will never get to see or appreciate it. So, this award goes to those platforms that appreciate women and I dedicate the award back to them. They have helped us to see that our voices don’t stand alone. They have given us that platform to shine and tell our stories.”
