Women Affairs Minister Launches Olowu Hope Initiative Women Empowerment Fund
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has launched the Olowu Hope Initiative (OHI) Women Empowerment Fund, a flagship programme designed to transform the Owu Kingdom and serve as a model for grassroots development across Nigeria.
The initiative, established by the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, builds on a successful pilot scheme and is targeted at reaching over 50,000 women in its first decade. It is part of a broader ambition to impact one million lives through four interconnected pillars focused on microcredit and economic empowerment, vocational training, education, and health.
The Women Empowerment Fund, regarded as the engine room of the initiative, will provide interest-free loans, business support, and capacity-building opportunities in partnership with World Citizen. The fund, chaired by Dr. Akintoye Akindele with members including Stephenie Coker Rank and Olori Adijat Bamidele Matemilola, aims to reach 50,000 women within the next five to ten years.
The governance structure of the initiative has been designed for transparency and sustainability. Its Board of Trustees is chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Balogun of Owu Kingdom, who serves as Grand Patron. Other members include Oba Matemilola, Dr. Mutiu Sunmonu, Aare Tony Attah, and Aare Chike Nwosu. The Advisory Board, led by Dr. Sunmonu, brings together professionals across diverse sectors to drive long-term impact.
The programme moves beyond traditional charity by providing women with both resources and opportunities to shape their futures. Organisers said the ripple effects of empowering 50,000 women would extend far beyond business growth, stimulating local economies, enhancing family nutrition, improving access to healthcare, and creating educational opportunities for children.
The Olowu Hope Initiative is positioned as a legacy-driven movement, with its two-tiered funding model combining financial capital with pro-bono services and donated goods. The scheme is expected to break cycles of poverty and foster generational change within Owu Kingdom and beyond.
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