Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation in partnership with Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, have announced the completion of its women empowerment programme, tagged ‘Catalyst for change 2.0″, with the graduation of 1,000 women in Onigbongbo, Ikeja, Lagos.

At the closing ceremony which marked the conclusion of a four-week intensive skills acquisition training, the beneficiaries were each provided with start-up kits to help kick-start their businesses.

The women were trained in tie & dye, hair and make-up, wig making, fashion and designing, household essentials, bag and shoemaking, while business training modules were delivered by experienced facilitators with a focus on personal and product branding, business foundations and basic accounting.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) also provided support to the programme.

In her welcome address, Mrs Bukola Bamiduro, Founder of Karis and Eleos Foundation, urged the women not to sleep on what they’ve been taught and be good ambassadors of the programme by first adding value to themselves, their families, communities and the nation at large.

Public affairs, communications and sustainability manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, charged the beneficiaries to place value on themselves so they can render value to others, and leave a legacy. “Start small to be a transgenerational business like Coca-cola that celebrated 126 years in business recently.” She said.