CBA Convener and the Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Chinwe – Bode Akinwande at the 10th anniversary of the Foundation healed at Eko hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos with the Theme: Empowering Women In Nigeria: Breaking the Circle of Poverty and Vulnerability. Speaking with the publisher of The Eye News Seun Fakoya at the event, she narrated the journey so far on CBA.
Quest. : What gave rise to this foundation?
Ans. : So it’s a calling, it’s a vision that I had to look after underprivileged widows and their children. Give them a voice with the help of God and meaningful people on earth, extend hope and support them.
Qus. : How have you been able to reach out to all them?
Ans. : So we do a whole lot of things,this conference words of mouth is one. For our outreaches, what we do is we go through the Baales of the different communities. Because clearly, for every community, there’s a king and there’s a leader they are the ones that can actually help us to get genuine widows in their communities. Let’s bear in mind, there are some that can come and that is not the case. So through the Baales in the communities, we do a lot of collaborations with them, which cuts across also different faiths. We do with churches as well, during our outreaches and we have support of media that help us drive the advocacy. Drive the awareness. And that is how widows knows that there’s a program that is coming and from there, we cancel, we build their database, and then we support them.
Qust. : Now, looking at the financial aspect of things, how have you been able to put these together?
Ans. : There are individuals that supports us in this conference, we have corporate sponsors. So we get supports from corporate sponsors and individuals. That is why I say well-meaning Nigerian who understands the plight and the cost that we are pursuing, they give. So also we have our in-kind donations like: Colgate, Power oli just to mention few.
Qust. : 10 years, what has been your challenge the good the bad and the ugly?
Ans. : Haahaa!, give us money, you know honestly in this drive of advocacy everybody needs money and that’s the truth but the truth of the matter as well is, as you do what you do, the people will come. It’s about the intent, so as the support is coming. You may ask us if we want more? Of course yes, it’s my desire to have houses where widows should leave the shackles of where they are living, having snakes and serpents as their neighbours. To come to a proper shelter and we believe it’s a matter of choice. So there are challenges but it doesn’t really matter and It doesn’t deter us. As a matter of fact, the challenge is a propelling force to attain our dream.
Qust. : Where do you want government to come into?
Ans. : Anywhere they can, we will ontinue in our advocacy and be on a look out for grant and support. Like I said, government is one, I am one and you are also part of the government. Like we always know, this little light of ours, let’s make it shine. Imagine everyone in this room, about 150 people, saying today I’m going to look out for one widow. That is empowering 150 widows without blinking. So you make it two that is 300, you make it four that is 600 widows and the number will keep increasing.
So, thank you gentle men of the Press.
