Isolo Council, Girlhub Africa collaborates to empower women
By Abolaji Adebayo
Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has partnered with a volunteering network, Girlhub Africa, to expose young women to volunteering opportunities that offers meaningful experiences.
According to the Lead Volunteer and Founder of GirlHub Africa, Gusi-Tobby Lordwilliams, the partnership with Isolo LCDA is primarily borne out of the need to give back to Isolo community where she grew up a few years back.
She said she was prompted to write a proposal to the council which was graciously approved by the Executive Chairman, Hon. Shamsudeen Abiodun Olaleye.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day event held on Wednesday at the council secretariat, Olaleye, who was represented by the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Kolawole Olojede, expressed his delight at the collaboration between the two organizations, stressing that the council keyed into the vision of GirlHub Africa in its commitment at creating a platform whereby young Isolo women could venture into vocations that would help sustain them in future.
During the three-day event, the participants would be imparted with skills in make-up, bead-making, hair-dressing, photography, tie &dye and gele at no cost.
LordWilliams, whose NGO is one of the fastest growing women network volunteering group in Africa, explained the motivation behind bringing the initiative to Isolo.
“First and foremost, I am an indigene of Isolo. This is like giving back to the society. I am inspired to give back to the society because most of the women I spoke with claimed that they didn’t have money to start a trade. Then I asked what if somebody teaches them and a lot of them have shown great enthusiasm,” she said.
According to her, the training would in the first instance last for three days. “After which we might extend it if the women show enough enthusiasm and great commitment,” adding “some of them have actually been showing promises and I am sure the volunteers have been noticing them.”
She stated further that her NGO would eventually empower those women who actually show interest and are ready to take the next step which is start-up.
21-year old Lordwilliams is also an entrepreneur whose passion in humanitarian services led her to creating Girlhub Africa, one of the fastest growing female volunteering networks in Africa.
The amazing young Nigerian who is very passionate about creating more opportunities for African women is also a Talkshow host and a professional makeup artist.
“Our generation has gradually become self-centered and everything these days is all about financial gain or celebrity status. When we volunteer, the humane side of us grows, we become more humble and value our place in the society as someone who can do their little bit with the objective of a positive influence,” she said.