By Job Osazuwa
Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye Foundation recently empowered men, women and youths with buses, tricycles, sewing machines and other life-changing equipment. December 29, 2020, would forever remain a memorable day in the lives of the beneficiaries of the empowerment, which took place in Lagos.
It was gathered that the foundation had in the past facilitated several poverty-alleviation projects for women and men, alongside scholarships and business start-up capital for youths alike. As the year 2020 was about to end, the foundation once again taught people how to fish, not just giving them fish.
While addressing the beneficiaries at the event, which took place in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, the convener of the foundation, founder of The New Seraph Church, Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye, encouraged the receivers to make the best use of the lifetime opportunity.
She said: “People have been asking me, why am I doing all these? Is it that I do not know what to use my money for? I simply said to them: Giving people fish is cool, but there is no feeling that could be as good as teaching people how to fish, which is so fundamental to me.
“Imagine a world where I have enough, you have enough, we all have enough; obviously, the world would be so good and pleasant to live in. As such, we want to make you happy and self-dependent, and we will appreciate if you do not let this vision down.
“We shall always check on you to see how you are faring in this your new endeavours; and our utmost joy would be that, in the shortest time possible, you have successfully turned this little impact into something massive.”
Yomi-Sholoye disclosed that the purpose of the empowerment scheme was to add her own quota towards helping government alleviate poverty in society.
The spokesperson for the foundation, Olasunkanmi Ogabi, said the motive behind the items given to people was to create job opportunities for more Nigerians. He advised the beneficiaries to be proud of their new businesses.
At least 500 people benefited from the empowerment programme, which also saw the beneficiaries going home with cooking gas and noodles, sales coolers, drinks and many more items.
The founder reiterated that the foundation was a non-governmental and non-profit organisation focused on positively impacting the lives of Nigerians who are in dire need.