To mark International Women’s Day, the Exclusive Women’s Social Club has launched an empowerment initiative aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs in Jahi Market, Abuja. The outreach, led by the club’s president, Queen Esther Franciosa, provided financial assistance to Nine (9) women running small-scale businesses, as part of efforts to promote economic independence and financial stability for women.
The initiative saw beneficiaries received the sum of ₦20,000 each to help strengthen their businesses. However, in a turn of events, the club doubled the financial support for one of the women, Ms. Adeola, after learning about her difficult circumstances with her sick child which made her use up her business money for recurring hospital bills.
Ms. Adeola, a hairdresser in Jahi Market, was visibly emotional upon receiving the ₦40,000 grant, revealing that the support came at a crucial time of her life. She explained that she had been struggling to afford hospital treatment for her critically ill child while trying to sustain her business.
Speaking on the decision to increase her support, Queen Esther emphasized that the club’s mission goes beyond financial aid, stating: “Empowering women is at the heart of what we do. We don’t just give, we listen, we understand, and we respond to the realities of women in our communities.” In addition to Ms. Adeola, eight other women received financial assistance aimed at helping them expand their businesses and achieving financial independence. The initial plan was to empower ten women with 20,000 naira each but, the planned changed to nine women due to Ms. Adeola’s case.
The initiative is part of the Exclusive Women’s Social Club’s broader efforts to support women in entrepreneurship, particularly those in underprivileged communities.
Queen Esther reaffirmed the club’s commitment to grassroots empowerment, highlighting the importance of providing women with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in business.
This empowerment program is one of several initiatives that would be spearheaded by the Exclusive Women’s Social Club to drive gender equality and financial inclusion.
By investing in women-led businesses, the club hopes to create sustainable opportunities that goes beyond the celebrations of International Women’s Day.
For the beneficiaries in Jahi Market, the outreach not only provided financial support but also served as a reminder of the importance of women uplifting one another, ensuring that the impact of International Women’s Day is felt far beyond a single day of recognition.
