French Embassy, HUFFPED empower women, vulnerable in Lagos
About 450 beneficiaries, mostly women and vulnerable households, have received business tools and finance in Lagos from the Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) and the French Embassy
About 450 beneficiaries, mostly women and vulnerable households, have received business tools and finance in Lagos from the Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) and the French Embassy in Nigeria.
The support was delivered under the Household Economic Strengthening and Resilience (HIEH) project, designed to help marginalised families strengthen their livelihoods and build sustainable sources of income.
HUFFPED’s Executive Director of Humanity Family Programmes, Adenigba Henry Oluwarotimi: “About 450 beneficiaries are receiving grants and equipment to help them expand their trades or vocational work.
“This is not charity. The goal is to strengthen what people already do so they can feed their families, grow their businesses, and move out of poverty.”
In addition, beneficiaries have also been enrolled in Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA).These community-based savings groups help members save regularly, access small loans, and support one another in growing their businesses.
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Programme Officer, French Embassy in Nigeria, Pierre-Louis Bonnel, said the initiative is funded through the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisations, which supports development projects across the country.
“The French Embassy has been supporting HUFFPED here in Lagos through financial assistance and capacity building. Between 2024 and 2026, we have supported more than 21 civil society organisations across Nigeria, mainly focusing on gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and girls,” he added.
He noted that the event also coincides with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, held on March 8 yeraly.
“It is very important for me to be here during this period. Today, we are celebrating women who have developed their businesses, strengthened their livelihoods, and made remarkable progress through this programme,” he added.
“Some want to open hair salons, others plan to expand their shops, buy freezers and refrigerators, or employ people in their communities,” he said. “They now understand their businesses better and can think bigger about the future.”
Also, HUFFPED’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Adeyeye Adekemi, urged beneficiaries to apply the financial discipline taught during their training.
“Our advice is simple: do not eat off the capital. They should use it to grow their businesses so that when we return for evaluation, we can see real progress, he said.
The empowerment package distributed to beneficiaries includes a range of vocational tools and business materials such as sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdressing equipment, stoning machines, stationery supplies, food items, and other business support materials.
Adekemi said HUFFPED will continue to monitor and support the beneficiaries while strengthening the VSLA groups to ensure the businesses grow sustainably.
HUFFPED officials also expressed appreciation to the French Embassy for its support and partnership.
Adekemi said the HIEH project reflects a development approach that focuses on economic resilience, skills development, and community-based financial systems rather than short-term aid.
