Empowered To Empower Initiative (E2E) - About Us

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Empowered to Empower Initiative is a non-profit making organization registered in Nigeria with the core competence of ensuring that rural women are psychologically and financially empowered for a better livelihood; considering the abject poverty ravaging our rural communities.

Looking at the poverty level in our rural communities, United State Agency for International Development (USAID) released a damming report on the food insecurity level of Nigeria stating that about 138.6million Nigerians live on less than N302 ($2) per day, representing 92% of Nigeria’s total population (Tim Previth, MD USAID Market, during International Telecom Development Summit hosted by NCC in Abuja).

This report is alarming, but to us, it is challenging. Therefore, these rural women are enlightened and trained to start up petty businesses to beat the monster called POVERTY out of their lives. They were born in poverty, they have been living in it and it’s so bad with them that eating two square meals a day is a luxury and education is entirely something else.

Because women are better managers of resources, we look to:

• Reduce poverty within the rural women to the best minimum level
• Create a stream of income for the household
• Build a strong women empowerment network
• Ensure financial independence of the rural woman

E2E LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING ABUJA

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Empowered2Empower (E2E) Initiative is an NGO targeted at less privileged women who can be inspired to make a living for themselves as well as be delivered from the shackles of an impoverished life.
E2E Laundry & Dry cleaning service is an avenue to raise funds to support the NGO and provide qualitative service to the busy metropolitan populace of ABUJA at a very affordable and highly competitive price. Revenue realized from the Laundry and Dry cleaning is used to augment the finance needed to run the E2E initiative successfully.

The Laundry and Dry cleaning offers the following services:

• FREE PICKUP AND DELIVERY (Anywhere in F.C.T)
• WASHING
• IRONING
• DRY CLEANING
• GARMENT ALTERATION AND MODIFICATION

.......and many more!
YOU CAN CALL TO PLACE YOUR ORDER AND ARRANGE FOR PICKUP on the following lines:

• 07030663269
• 08032152220
• 08173486721

Or mail all needed details for pickup (Pickup Address, Delivery Address Phone Number, Suitable time and date for pickup and delivery) to: 

• azodecharles@gmail.com
• dadreamersworld@gmail.com

Women empowerment as a panacea to poverty eradication in Nigeria

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As the biggest oil exporter with the largest natural gas reserves in Africa and accounting for about 49% of West Africa’s population; Nigeria is the most populous country in black Africa, with an approximate 158 million people. Interestingly, Nigeria’s economy witnessed an all-time high growth rate of 7.6% between 2003 and 2010. But unfortunately, over 63% of its population still wallows in abject poverty, living below $1 per day (World Bank). The million dollar question is: Why has poverty eradication attempts failed in Nigeria, despite the vast human and natural resources?

Despite several attempts by successive governments at mitigating the problem, little or no success has been recorded. Yet huge sums have been expended by governmental and non-governmental agencies in this direction. However, this cannot be unconnected to wanton corruption, income inequality, political instability, conflicts and ineffective public policies. In addition, poverty eradication drive, has suffered huge setbacks as a result of institutionalised hypocrisy in the guise of poverty alleviation and rural-poor economic empowerment interventions. Fraudulent non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals have cashed in on the dire situation, in the process defraud both foreign and local donor agencies of millions of dollars at the expense of the majority poor. In a bit to ‘justify’ their so-called empowerment schemes, they churn out fictitious names of beneficiaries, figures, projects and non-existent locations. All in an effort to divert
funds supposedly meant for the rural and urban poor’s economic empowerment. Suffice to mention however, that there are exceptions to the above assertion – but rare.

Going through the history of attempts by government to arrest the soaring rate of poverty in the country, one cannot but see the disconnection between the schemes on the one hand and solutions to poverty on the other, which unarguably lies in women’s active participation in the process. From the 1972 National Accelerated Food Production Programme and Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank, to the 1976: Operation Feed the Nation; then Green Revolution of 1979; Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure in 1986, then Family Support Programme and the Family Economic Advancement Programme of 1993 and recently National Poverty Alleviation Programme. Except for the Family Support Programme and Family Economic Advancement Programme that tried unsuccessfully to directly include women in the fight against poverty, none of these schemes placed women in an active role; hence, there lies the crux of the matter.

Save the Woman, Save the Family!!!

All for one, One for all

Poverty is regarded as a state of deprivation and is manifested in illiteracy, lack of access to food, water, poor housing and inability to meet basic ends’ meet. The prevalence of poverty however presents a paradox of the country’s natural and human resources endowment. An assessment of the incidence of poverty in Nigeria shows that poverty has worsened in Nigeria since the 1980s. While many Nigerians, especially women, are worse off than their male counterparts. It is against this backdrop, that poverty reduction becomes one of the most urgent challenges facing the Nigerian government.

Poverty reduction has always be a focal point in Nigeria in spite of successive government changes. The daunting challenges however, remain challenge of understanding the dimensions and causes of poverty, and developing appropriate and effective strategies to eradicate poverty in the country. The incidence, depth and severity of poverty among women are so much. In Nigeria today, most people live on a mere N120 (less than $1) a day, hence such people are regarded as those enmeshed in poverty.

Apparently, a chunk of the nation’s population lack basic amenities, adequate health care, shelter and good jobs. It should however be noted that of the high preponderance of poverty amongst Nigerians, Nigerian women are the most affected. This is not unconnected with the fact that they are often marginalized in various spheres in the society. From decision-making process, politic, religious, social spheres as well as on issues relating to employment opportunities, economic opportunities among others.

 The Nigerian women precarious position in the society is not helped by the malaises they are vulnerable to, such as domestic violence, illiteracy, high maternal mortality, low income and poverty, women trafficking, political and social marginalization, that have been to the chagrin of many feminist group in the country. Admittedly, copious data on poverty in Nigeria indicate that about 70% of poor Nigerians are women. Indeed a substantial percentage of such women are said to live below the nationally and internationally defined poverty line, lacking access to basic necessities of life such as basic education, basic nutrition, adequate health and social services.

Sociologically, Nigerian women are known to be extensively preoccupied with diverse complex roles as mothers, workers and household keepers-taking care of their husbands, children and their extended families. The Nigerian women are dominant in the agricultural sector, ensuring the propagation of most food stuffs in Nigerian market.

70% of Nigerian women are living below poverty line – Former Minister

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The  former minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said 70% of Nigerian women are living below poverty line.

She disclosed this during her Advocacy meeting with Women, Children and other Vulnerable Groups in Jos, Plateau state.

According to her, “Several inter-related socio-economic factors have led to poor economic status of a large segment of Nigerian women, such that 70% of people living below the poverty line are women.

“I encourage you all to work more to improve economic empowerment for women and persons with disabilities because this is the only sure way for the advancement of vulnerable groups".

Speaking on women’s increased participation and decision-making in politics, the former minister said, “Politics is said to be a game of number. Yet women’s numerical strength has not impacted positively on the political life and decision making structures of the nation, due to unfavorable political environment characterized by violence".

She maintained that, “The imbalance in political representation is so grave. Progressive agitation for 35% Affirmative Action in favor of women to bridge gender gaps in both elective and selective posts at all levels by 2015 is worthwhile experience so far, especially at the federal level where we now have 13 women as cabinet Ministers, representing 33% of the Federal Executive Council".

Zainab decried that, many Nigerian women die prematurely, especially from preventable circumstances, because of inadequate “health incentives for health personnel, ignorance and cultural taboos”.

Leaning In While Black: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s manifesto for Women

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James Brown may have left this mortal coil, but one of his most famous pronouncements is as true today as in 1966: “This is a man’s world.” Only 17 of the world’s 193 countries are led by women; in the United States, women hold just 14 percent of executive officer positions and 18 percent of congressional seats.Numerous researchers have looked into why this glass ceiling persists. In a 2003 study on gender, success and likeability, professors from Columbia Business School and New York University found that a successful “Howard” is viewed as more appealing than a “Heidi” with identical accomplishments and personality traits. Women’s careers are also hampered by a culture that insists that men should be primary providers and women primary nurturers and housekeepers, forcing women to make hard decisions between work and family. And that is just a fraction of the story of inequity. It is no wonder many women back away from their ambition.According to Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and author of the self-described feminist manifesto Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, this disparity in power and achievement can be attributed to systemic gender inequality and cultural biases, but also to something else: the way women are acculturated to respond, often subconsciously, to these factors. Sandberg calls on women to “lean in”: to act with boldness and confidence; to “sit at the table” where decisions are made; to choose life partners who support their careers; and to not put those careers on hold for marriage and babies before those things are a reality.

Diaspora Report: Domestic Violence High in Egypt, Affecting Women's Reproductive Health

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Violence against women is a costly and pervasive public health problem and a violation of human rights. In Egypt, a third of women are physically abused by their husbands, according to the 2005 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Most victims suffer silently and don’t seek help to prevent or stop the violence because they think it is part of life or they are embarrassed by the abuse.

In 1996, the World Health Assembly declared violence against women to be a major public health problem that urgently needed to be addressed by governments and health organizations. Gender-based violence causes a host of health problems that drain health systems' resources, limit women's growth and productivity, and hinder governments from achieving their national goals related to health and women’s empowerment. The impact on women's health, in particular, is well documented. Domestic violence is a major cause of disability and death among women worldwide, and puts women at a higher risk for unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Gender-based violence has also been linked to increased risk of gynecological disorders and pregnancy complications, and violence during pregnancy can cause serious harm to both the mother and fetus.