- Epe Division Professional Women Association (EPWA) honoured distinguished women for their outstanding contributions to humanity, healthcare, empowerment, and community development.
- Twenty beneficiaries across Epe Division received ₦100,000 each to support and expand their businesses.
- EPWA reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women, youths, students, widows, and vulnerable groups through education, mentorship, healthcare, and economic support initiatives.
The Epe Division Professional Women Association (EPWA) has celebrated excellence, service, and community impact by honouring distinguished women and empowering 20 entrepreneurs with cash grants during its Awards and Recognition for Excellence Ceremony held at the Eredo LCDA Hall, Epe.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the event, which attracted traditional rulers, government officials, community leaders, professionals, and women from across Epe Division, marked another milestone in the association’s over a decade-long commitment to humanitarian service, women empowerment, and community development.
Delivering her welcome address, the President of EPWA, Mrs. Folakemi Oluyemi, described the occasion as a celebration of excellence, resilience, leadership, and the progressive spirit of Epe Division.
She reflected on the association’s journey since its inception in 2015 by a group of visionary women committed to improving the lives of girls, women, and vulnerable members of society.
According to her, EPWA was formally registered in 2016 and has since executed numerous impactful projects across Epe Division, including medical outreaches, donation of medical equipment to healthcare facilities, payment of medical bills, educational support programmes, scholarship schemes, mentorship initiatives, advocacy programmes, and relief interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She disclosed that the association had donated textbooks to eleven libraries across Epe Division and established a ₦10 million endowment fund at Lagos State University to support outstanding female students from the division.
Mrs. Oluyemi noted that the awards ceremony was conceived to recognize and celebrate women and individuals whose contributions to society have often gone unnoticed despite their remarkable impact on humanity.
The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities, including Her Excellency Mama Doja Otedola, who received the Lifetime Achievement Recognition Award; Her Excellency Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, honoured with the Exemplary Humanitarian Service Award; Dr. (Mrs.) Onayiga, who received the Excellence in Professional Health Service Award; Dr. (Mrs.) Titilope Olubisi Ejimagwa, honoured with the Excellence in Women Empowerment Award; and HRM Olori Adewale, who received the Excellence in Selfless Service and Community Engagement Award.
In addition to the awards, EPWA empowered 20 beneficiaries drawn from Epe Local Government, Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, Eredo LCDA, Ibeju-Lekki, and Lekki with ₦100,000 each to support their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Speaking on the empowerment initiative, Hon. Kenny Kadri Edu highlighted the association’s long-standing commitment to economic empowerment and community development.
She recalled several empowerment programmes previously executed by EPWA, including the association’s recent 10th anniversary celebration during which 50 beneficiaries received ₦200,000 each as business support grants.
According to her, the empowerment programmes are funded through contributions from members and support from philanthropists who share the association’s vision of uplifting lives and creating opportunities for women, youths, widows, students, and other vulnerable groups.
“It gives us joy to see women and young people succeed in their various endeavors. Our goal is to help them become self-reliant and financially independent. While we focus heavily on women and the girl-child, we also support boys and young men whenever the need arises,” she said.
The Alara of Ilara Kingdom commended EPWA for its consistency in supporting youths, widows, students, and communities across Epe Division.
The monarch praised the association for complementing government efforts in the areas of education, healthcare, empowerment, and social welfare, noting that its interventions have positively impacted countless lives over the years.
He urged the members not to relent in their humanitarian efforts and prayed for continued growth, strength, and divine blessings upon the association and its leadership.
Also speaking, Mama Doja Otedola expressed appreciation to EPWA for the honour bestowed upon her and commended the association for its dedication to improving the lives of women and vulnerable groups.
She pledged her continued support to the organization and assured members that she would always be willing to assist in advancing its developmental objectives whenever the need arises.
Hon. Stella Adedolapo also praised EPWA for its remarkable achievements, describing the association as a beacon of hope and empowerment for women across Epe Division.
She commended the leadership for sustaining impactful programmes over the years and encouraged members to remain committed to initiatives that promote education, entrepreneurship, and social development.
Representing former First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, Mrs. Modupe Bewaji lauded EPWA for its resilience and dedication to service.
She noted that sustaining an association for over a decade while consistently impacting lives and communities was a remarkable achievement worthy of commendation.
“It is not easy for women to remain united and committed to a common cause for ten years while continuously doing great things for their people and communities. EPWA deserves every recognition for its consistency and impact,” she said.
Award recipient, Dr. (Mrs.) Titilope Olubisi Ejimagwa, also commended the association for recognizing excellence and inspiring women to strive for greater achievements.
She described EPWA as a platform that has continued to empower women, encourage leadership, and promote positive change across Epe Division, urging members to continue building on the association’s legacy of service.
Mrs. Akinloye, who represented the wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, equally praised EPWA for its outstanding contributions to women empowerment, education, and community development.
She commended the association’s commitment to uplifting women and vulnerable groups and encouraged members to sustain their efforts towards building stronger families and communities.
The event concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders, award recipients, and members to continue supporting initiatives that promote education, healthcare, women empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development across Epe Division.
