Group Improves Finance Access for Women through Initiative

Omolabake Fasogbon

With about 94 percent of women lacking access to formal credits according to data by Women’s World Banking, a non-profit organisation, Pillars House Foundation (PHF) is providing relief through its Secure Woman Academy and Forum (SWAF) platform. 

PHF was established with a motive to address challenges besetting women, while helping them find bearing financially, emotionally and financially. 

Citing the report, Founder of Pillars House Foundation, Bridget Williams, stated that many women are drawn back from exploring their dreams due to financial constraints, lack of education, and a support system. 

She remarked that this often limits them from contributing meaningfully to their lives, households, and communities, as well as fuels low self-esteem and limited opportunities for especially illiterate and semi-literate women. 

She said SWAF was set out to address these limitations by promoting holistic development among Nigerian women. 

“Through SWAF, we will be implementing diverse empowerment projects tailored to meet needs of women in the country without biases to their background or differences. 

“We believe that total development comes from addressing the whole person. Spiritual empowerment gives women purpose and resilience; financial empowerment creates economic stability and independence, while emotional empowerment builds self-awareness and healthy coping mechanisms. 

“Our mission is to help women realise they no longer have to bear life’s burdens alone. Through our modules and a friendly teaching environment, they learn to become self-employed while building character and self-worth,” she stated.

Williams revealed further that the organisation has resolved to address potential financial challenge for beneficiaries upon completion of their training, assuring of sustainable income and independence of women. 

“We shall be offering starter packs to program’s graduates and also facilitate access to soft loans through our cooperative and thrift society. Plans are also underway to partner with microfinance banks to provide tailored funding solutions for beneficiaries,” she disclosed. 

She also welcomed support through grants, corporate partnerships, and individual donors,  to multiply the reach and impacts of initiative, hinting at plans to establish at least two training centers across 36 states of the country.