Empowerment: Maria Centre Puts Smiles On Faces Of Vulnerable Girls, Women In Abuja

By Nomsu Baba

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The atmosphere in Maria Centre, located at Games Village, Abuja, on Thursday came alive with wild celebrations as several young women were empowered by the Maria Center, an empowerment initiative for vulnerable girls and indigent women, by Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, (OLA)

The Centre, in partnership with Conrad Hilton Foundation, graduated and equipped 11 young women with start up packs, after training them for one year in fashion design and other skills.

Speaking to newsmen on the motivation behind such project, Rev. Sr. Assumpta Mordi, OLA, in charge of the centre, while appreciating God for the success of the graduation, said the displacements of persons due to the unrest in some parts of the country, gave the initiator the reason to establish the Center.

“We are here joyfully celebrating the graduation of 11 participants of our Sewing Empowerment Institute. This is Maria Centre, which started some years ago with the influx of the IDPs from Borno.

” Women, usually are the bedrock of the home, how to get them doing something, and forget the dificulties of the home, and to find something for themselves and their families, was the reason this program came into being” she added.

According. to her, though, they experienced difficulty in trying to train them( women) without any good foundation, they however, were able to complete the training prgram through the help of God and other well meaningful individuals.

She however lamented that funds was a huge challenge, but it never deterred them from successfully graduating the women, as Conrad Hilton Foundation, came to their aid.

Responding to question, on the mode of selection of the trainees/ participants, Rev. Sr. Pauline Gaiya, OLA, formally, in charge of the Centre, said, they did not use any preference, as the IDP camps have always been their targeted communities.

“We have IDP camp here in Games Village, so we go there each year to meet them, and then select the women we will empower for the year, because we can’t take all of them, since we don’t have the means.”

“Today, the Hilton Foundation empowered them; you can see they are very happy, you can see the machines, the equipment, and then cash in envelopes, to keep these women going, they will help themselves, and in turn, help the society,” she added.

Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, the Coordinator, Hilton Project, Kaduna, Rev. Sr. Monica Onwunali thanked God for achieving such feat.

“Today, our joy is complete, that we are presenting this machines’ equipment, to help you, to empower you, to help uplift your families. These machines are to help you, so that you can feed yourselves and your families,” she said.

“So, we pray you and beg you to use them wisely, officially, I am handing them over to you,” she added.

The institute instructor, Mrs. Fumilayo Kayode, said the enthusiasms shown by the women, did not allow her to encounter so many challenges.

“I can’t say there were challenges, because God has been merciful, and the women came out strong to learn, and they really achieved a lot, you can even see them today, they are happy. Everything they are wearing was made by them, so that, they can showcase and be a able so sell some and promote themselves.”

One of the beneficiaries, Aminu Umar said “I’m happy because I benefited a lot here, they gave me so many things, I’m saying thank you to all of them. Those with riches should copy from Maria Centre and Conrad Hilton, because the only way to achieve in life, is to touch the lives of those in need.”

Another beneficiary, Rita Izoba, filled with happiness, said ” I’m very happy, because I learnt many things, I learnt how to make bags, clothes, headbands, pillows, so many things. I say thank you to them, God will bless them for us, because it’s not easy, especially in this present times.”

Recall that, the Maria Centre came into existence through the initiative of Sr Anne Falola, OLA., in 2016.