Follow Us on Google
By Chidiebere Onyemaizu
The Rotary Club of Greenfield, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, has presented some indigent widows in the area with grinding machines and cash gifts of N20, 000 each as start up capital.
Presenting the beneficiaries with the items at a ceremony on Thursday, the visiting District Governor, Bukola Bakare said the gesture was consistent with Rotary Club’s philosophy of lifting the poor through sustainable economic development, self-sufficiency and empowerment. According to her, through the empowerment, Rotary Club of Greenfield has taught the women how to fish rather than handing fishes to them. She urged them to make judicious use of the machines to improve their economic capacities.
“This is a wonderful empowerment. If we give you the cash equivalent of these machines, you will spend it within one month but these machines are like teaching you how to fish instead of giving you fish. When you fish for yourself and by yourself, it is more fulfilling and this is what Rotary club is helping you to achieve this evening. The Club is giving you hope, teaching you how to fish so that you can fish by yourself without depending on anybody,” she said.
Further highlighting the economic significance of the empowerment, she told the beneficiaries who are all widows that they could feed their families with the grinding machines. Urging the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling the machines, she reminded them that they were purchased with contributions from the club members, who felt the need to contribute their quota towards poverty alleviation in the society, in line with Rotary club’s philosophy. “If you sell these machines, within one month, you will spend the money but if you keep using them, you will buy the second one after this. You will buy the third one, and then, you will eventually be able to help family members, who are in need, so please don’t sell these machines. If you feel they are not useful to you, return them to the club, there are others who will value them.
Other News
“Remember, members contributed their hard-earned money to support you in this society. When your children grow up and want to join this club or any other club, remember this day,” she stated.
Earlier, President of the Club, Kayode Oyesile explained that since the inception of the club, it has consistently empowered indigent people. “Today, we are empowering indigent women in our community with grinding machines and a start-up capital, so that they can use it to put food on the table for their families,” he stressed.
On the criteria for the selection of the beneficiaries of the grinding machines, he said widows who have a rotary member as a relation were not considered as it is believed that the rotary member should be able to empower such indigent relatives who are widows.
“Widows with financial challenges and no support from families were eventually selected. They must already have a place to operate the machine and our committee visited the site for inspection before they were invited for a one-on-one interaction with the committee members before the final approval was given,” Oyesile explained.
The beneficiaries praised the club members and prayed to God to replenish their pockets. One of them, Mrs Chinyere Umeh, was emotion-struck as she rained prayers and praises endlessly on the club’s members while receiving her empowerment.
“I feel very much happy. I’m overwhelmed. The grinding machine will boost my business because I sell tomatoes and other items that could be grounded. I just want to thank the Rotary Club. I pray that the Almighty God will bless them more and more in Jesus’ name,” she told the Daily Sun.
The District Governor had earlier presided over the induction of four new club members, including the Executive Director Advertising, Businessday Newspaper, Dr Ijeoma Ude.
