Events
WIMBIZ kicks off its COVID-19 Relief Project in Several Communities in Nigeria
The current economic situation triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains and business activities across countries, including Nigeria. To combat this pandemic, general lockdown strategies have been implemented. This has resulted in a decline in economic activity, a dip in oil prices, and a reduction in disposable income. The impact on the poorest and most vulnerable segments of the population has been magnified with people who depend on daily wages to fend for their families, feeling the brunt of these restrictions.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the WIMBIZ delegation led by Chairman, Executive Council, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo; Founding Trustee & Chairman, Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; Founding Trustee, WIMBIZ, Bola Adesola; to low-income households in Ijeh Community, Obelende, Lagos State during the Women In Management Business and Public
Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project.
It quickly became apparent to the WIMBIZ team, that Nigerian women within the low-income bracket would be hit by the impact of the lockdown and they would need support to comply with the government’s lockdown restrictions designed to flatten the curve as well as stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Beneficiaries of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Shomolu Community, Lagos State.
The WIMBIZ COVID-19 Relief Project, is an initiative borne out of the challenges associated with the pandemic and the need for a collective action to combat the spread of the virus. Initially, we considered three communities to distribute the relief packs to Ijeh in Obalende, Idiaraba in Surulere, and Mushin. However, due to the scale of the adverse economic impact of the ongoing pandemic and in response to the overwhelming support and feedback from our donors, we increased our relief package distribution target to 10,000 relief packs.
Beneficiaries of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Shomolu Community, Lagos State.
In addition, we diversified our geographic focus and extended our donation window to enable us to expand our reach. Our relief packages have so far been distributed in these communities across the country: Ijeh, Shomolu, Orile, Aguda, Mushin, Ikorodu, Seriki Ado, Ikeja, LAWMA, Makoko, Oke-Iranla Ojo, Yaba, Onikan, Addo, Langbasa, Garki, Gwarimpa, Tungan, Maje, Jikwoyi, Durumi, Bundu, Okrika, Diobu Waterside, Bonny, Akinyele, Iddo, Lagelu/Egbeda and Ona-Ara.
We leveraged our diverse network of associates and received immense support from members of our Board of Trustees and Executive Council. There was also a representation of our secretariat staff led by the Executive Director of WIMBIZ for this well-needed outreach initiative. The collective effort from those within the WIMBIZ organization resulted in effective execution of this outreach and strengthened our desire to continuously remain the catalyst that elevates the status of women as well as promotes nation-building.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the
Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by WIMBIZ Associate,
Oluronke Akinwale; ICT Officer, WIMBIZ, Adedoyin Adejumo; Procurement Manager, Easy Shop Easy
Cook Services Limited, Basirat Alle; Program Officer, WIMBIZ, Ekundayo El-Hassan; to low income
households in the Ikorodu Community of Lagos State during the WIMBIZ COVID-19 Relief Project.
The WIMBIZ COVID-19 Project Relief Program distributed 11,919 relief packs, directly impacting over 71,514 Nigerians across 28 communities in 4 states within Nigeria, with donations from 503 cash donors and 18 in-kind donors. Sector demographics covered include healthcare workers, waste management staff, widows, law enforcement households, internally displaced individuals, and an old people’s home.
A line up of women awaiting the Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ)
COVID-19 Relief Packs (non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items at Ikorodu
Community, Lagos State.
With Nigeria’s population estimated to be close to 200m and a large proportion of our citizens living below the poverty line, the pandemic has been catastrophic. The restriction of movement as part of the Government’s efforts to stop the spread of the virus has significantly impacted livelihoods, particularly those that depend on daily cash incomes. More focus is required to identify the vulnerable members of society across the nation and create safety nets to provide respite. The WIMBIZ COVID-19 Relief Package has assisted (and continues to assist) with supporting some of these households but there is still a lot more to be done to reduce inequality and achieve gender equality.
Handover of Relief Materials (non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Founding Trustee, WIMBIZ, Bola Adesola; Communications & Research Manager, WIMBIZ, Elsie Akpabio; Program Officer, WIMBIZ, Ekundayo El-Hassan; WIMBIZ Associate, Saudat Salami to Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authorities (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; and Executive Director, Clinical Services, LAWMA, Modupe Okoh; for female sweepers of Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Ijora at the Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project.
We continue to focus on growing our network of professional women, delivering value-added programs, creating differentiated benefits for our Associates, advocating for increased female participation at all levels & supporting our communities.
Beneficiaries – Female sweepers of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) during the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project LAWMA Headquarters, Ijora, Lagos.
Handover of Relief Materials (non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Finance & Accounts Executive, WIMBIZ, Jocelyn Asemota; Procurement Manager, Easy Shop Easy Cook Services Limited, Basirat Alle; to Community Heads of Makoko and Oke Iranla Communities for low-income households in these communities during the WIMBIZ COVID-19 Relief Project.
Beneficiaries of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief
Project at Makoko Community, Lagos State.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the WIMBIZ delegation led by Communications and Research Manager, WIMBIZ Elsie Akpabio; and Officer Administrator, WIMBIZ, Anthonia Emetarom to Primary Healthcare Providers at Yaba Isolation Centre, Lagos State during the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the WIMBIZ delegation led by Finance Manager, WIMBIZ, Kenneth Enabosi, and Program Officer, WIMBIZ, Ekundayo El-Hassan to Primary Healthcare Providers at Onikan Isolation Centre, Lagos State during the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Executive Council Member, WIMBIZ, Awuneba Ajumogobia; and Associate Member, WIMBIZ, Nike Oyedele to low-income households in Aado and Langbasa Community of Lagos State during the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project.
Beneficiaries of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Aado and Langbasa Community, Lagos State during the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Chairman, Executive Council, WIMBIZ; Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo; Founding Trustee & Chairman, Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; Procurement Manager, Easy Shop Easy Cook Services Limited, Basirat Alle to widows in Ojo Community of Lagos State during the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project.
Widow beneficiaries of Relief Materials (non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) during the Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Ojo Community of Lagos State.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Executive Director, WIMBIZ, Hansatu Adegbite; Executive Council Member, Binta Max-Gbinije and WIMBIZ Associates with Executive Director, Civil Society & Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani; Divisional Police Officer, Garki Police Station Nana Garba WIMBIZ COVID-19 Relief Project, at Garki, Abuja.
Beneficiaries of the Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief
Project, at Garki, Abuja.
A beneficiary at the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief
Project, at Tungan Maje, Abuja.
Beneficiaries at the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief
Project, at Jikwoyi, Abuja.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Founding Trustee, WIMBIZ, Funmi Roberts; WIMBIZ Associate, Bimbo Onakomaiya; with Oba Adeniran James at the Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project, at Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Beneficiaries of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Founding Trustee, WIMBIZ, Funmi Roberts with a beneficiary of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project, at Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Beneficiaries at the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief
Project, at Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The WIMBIZ volunteer team led by WIMBIZ Associate, Eyono Fatayi-Williams at the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Bonny, Rivers State.
Beneficiaries of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Bonny, Rivers State.
Distribution of Relief Materials (Non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) delegation led by Founding Trustee, WIMBIZ, Julia Oku-Jacks with WIMBIZ Associates and Community Development Authorities during the Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) COVID-19 Relief Project at Okrika, Port-Harcourt.
About WIMBIZ
WIMBIZ is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by 13 phenomenal women and one amazing man with the objective of elevating the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation-building through programs designed to inspire, empower, connect and advocate for women in Business, Management, and Public Service. Our founders include; Dr. Omobola Johnson (Former Minister of Information and Communication in Nigeria), Bola Adesola (Senior Vice-Chairman, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank), Ifeyinwa Ighodalo (Current Chairman of the WIMBIZ Board of Trustees and CEO, DO. 11 Design Limited) among other notable personalities.
The core of what WIMBIZ embodies includes; inspiring women to attain leadership positions, advocating for gender parity, educating and empowering women to maximize their potential, creating platforms for mentoring, networking, and building value-added business relationships, capacity building for sustainable livelihoods and supporting our communities. In line with the last objective, we launched the WIMBIZ Covid-19 Relief Package Project on Monday, March 30, 2020 and distribution of Relief Packs in communities commenced on Wednesday, April 8 with a plan to provide five thousand (5000) relief packs (non-perishable food, personal care, and hygiene items) to vulnerable low-income households in Lagos – the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
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