Alhaja Fatimo Balogun-Owolabi, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress party,in her resolve to reduce the rising poverty index amongst indigents and women in Ifako-Ijaiye, Ojokoro council area,
has flagged-off a non governmental organisation and also give out millions of naira as zero interest loan.
The loans were issued out through ELEOS Foundation an NGO, founded and funded by Alhaja Fatimo to give economic empowerment to many.
During the official inauguration of the foundation at the APC Secretariat, Ojokoro LCDA, hundreds of indigents; women,youths and aged in the society benefited with clear repayment plan to ensure continuity of the scheme.
Dignitaries across public and private sector, who featured at the inauguration stated that the initiative is apt and in tune with the attainment of one of the sustainable development goals.
Speaking at the inauguration, the founder, ELEOS Foundation and National President Concern Women Forum, Alhaja Fatimo notes that given the high level of poverty in the society, stakeholders must support the less privilege in any form.
“I have launched ELEOS FOUNDATION (Faaji Impact) in order to touch more lives, through empowerment of women, youths, and adults in the society, supporting the less privileged and promoting small and medium scale businesses in our communities.
“This is part of what we have been doing at concern women’s forum, which has now given birth to ELEOS FOUNDATION.
“This will make us do more for the society. We are strategically positioned to assist the less privileged, make lives better for the downtrodden and ensure everyone within our foundation net have a business which brings food to their tables.”
“Today we have hundred of beneficiaries selected from Ifako-Ijaiye and Ojokoro, to receive One hundred thousand naira and Fifty thousand naira cheques to shore up their business capital.
“The program shall cater for thousands of women and hundreds of households within Ifako-Ijaiye and Ojokoro at the pilot stage. As we intend to give more, in order to impact lots of lives and eradicate poverty in our society.” Alhaji Fatimo Said.
All beneficiaries were advised to invest wisely and pay up loan as and when due, to enable others benefit from the scheme.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with newsmen applauded the initiator of the interest free loan initiative as they pledged to repay the loan in other to pave way for other would be beneficiaries.
They added that Alhaja Fatimo Balogun-Owolabi has been a source of joy to many homes having impacted their lives positively.
The founder of ELEOS foundation Alhaja Fatimo Balogun-Owolabi is a business tycoon, politician and a philanthropist.
Being a large hearted and well meaning individual, she recently doled out N1m naira to NACOMYO and equally gave a grant of N2m to the Concern Women Singers among others, which further affirms her selflessness and service to humanity, being a good APC ambassador who supports various activities of the state government.