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Catholic Nun Donates Livelihood Kits to the Vulnerable in Nigeria

Sr. Ushie Grace Imaji with some beneficiaries of the empowerment program. Credit: ACI Africa

A Catholic Nun in Nigeria has donated business-startup kits to 17 vulnerable persons within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to help them to start income generating ventures.

On Thursday March 21, Sr. Ushie Grace Imaji handed over tools to the 17 persons who had received prior training in soap making, pastry making, rearing of goats and sale of food items.

Speaking to ACI Africa on the sidelines of the event, the member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ) in Nigeria said she was motivated to touch the lives of the vulnerable persons because of the economic crisis that the West African country has plunged into.

Six people were empowered in soap making, five in making different types of pastries, four people in rearing goats, one person in the sale of food items.

“This is my own way of giving alms to people who really need to be supported and when this opportunity came for me to do something for people who are in need, I grabbed it,” Sr. Imaji said.

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She added, “I looked around the different communities in Abuja and also to empower indigent people, people who are on the margin of the society, to enable them to be self-reliant, be able to grow any small scale business of their choice that they know they have passion for.”

She said, “It is my belief that this gesture will go a long way to alleviate the poverty among the people.”

The Head of Academic Affairs at Veritas University, Abuja is hopeful that the beneficiaries will seize the opportunity presented to them and diligently work towards achieving self-reliance and prosperity. 

She stressed the importance of hard work and dedication, urging the beneficiaries to view the empowerment as a catalyst for personal and family upliftment.

Also speaking to ACI Africa, the Program Officer of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) who partnered with Sr Imaji to make the project possible, said that their interest is to promote peace through the instrumentalities of empowering indigent people in the society irrespective of their tribe and religion. 

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“This empowerment today is meant for beneficiaries to fend for themselves and also fend for others, Nigeria is already passing through difficult condition both on economic and insecurity so the best thing we need now is to preach peace through the use of empowering people with skills and livelihood, that was why we provided funding support for this programme, Mr. Nicholas Dikesaid.

One of the beneficiaries Ms. Zakiya Ibrahim who was trained in soap making and was given tools to start the business was full of appreciation to the organizers of the initiative.

“I am so grateful that I have been trained on how to make soap and how to run my own businessI promise that with this startup tools given to me, I will utilize it for the benefit of my family and my community at large,” Ms. Zakiya said.

Another beneficiary, Mr. Peter Umoru who was empowered with male and female goats for him to rear and make profit from the offspring expressed optimism that he will take good care of the livestock. 

“I believe that these goats that I received today as an empowerment will go a long way in helping me train my children in school and to provide for my aged parents,” he said.

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Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.