SOK Foundation supports 150 women, vulnerable in Badagry

An NGO, Senayon Olufemi Kuton (SOK) Foundation has supported more than 150 old women and vulnerable in Badagry, on Saturday with N20,000 cash each, to raise their businesses.

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Speaking on behalf of the founder, Mr Augustine Kriko, one of the Coordinators, said the founder is based in the United States but born in Badagry.

Kriko said the foundation was created to care for old people and vulnerable in Badagry.

According to him, this is a form of giving back to the society.

“We have a lot of old vulnerable widows and widowers in our community so, we thought that creating the foundation will help in locating them in order to assist them.
“So we started the first phase of the project in 2021 immediately after the COVID-19 and reached out to 40 beneficiaries who received N10,000 each.

“The following year, we increased the numbers to 80 because of the feedback we got from them. Reaching out to them again in 2023, some of them did well with the same amount they were given.
“Some started petty trading, so this is what encouraged us and increased the number to 150 widows and widowers across Badagry Federal constituency.”

Kriko urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.

“To whom much is given much is expected, before, some of them do take soft loans but they have promised not to borrow again. We are happy to hear this from them,” he said.

Chief Anthony Oloyede, the Efiyentan of Badagry kingdom said he was delighted to be part of the empowerment programme.

Oloyede urged wealthy Nigerians to always assist their widows and aged people in the society

He commended the founder of the foundation for giving back to his society.

Mrs Oluwakemi Hunsu, another foundation coordinator advised the beneficiaries not to see the money as free money but to use to trade.

Mr Emmanuel Iroko, a 75 year-old resident of Ajara Isalu in Badagry said he has not held N5,000 from the beginning of 2024.

He commended the foundation for remembering the vulnerable during the period.

Mrs Ramota Hunsu, an 83 year-old groundnut seller from Yafin in Badagry, said the little money will change her life because she would use it to start business all over again.

NAN/Wumi