The Queen Juliet Endowment Foundation on Saturday flagged off its annual women and youth empowerment programme in Kano State, targeting at least 3,000 beneficiaries as part of a wider plan to empower one million Nigerians across the country.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony, the founder of the foundation, Ambassador Queen Uju-Obiaeli, said the initiative is one of the organisation’s core programmes for 2026 and is designed to align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said, “Today we are in Kano to flag off our annual women empowerment programme. Our goal this year is to empower about one million women and youths across Nigeria, starting from Kano State on January 1, 2026.”
Uju-Obiaeli explained that Kano was selected for the take off because of its strategic importance in the northern region, adding that significant groundwork had already been completed before the official launch.
According to her, “Before today, we have trained many women in Kano State in various skills and small scale businesses that will enable them to support themselves and their families.”
She said about 500 women had already benefited from the training phase ahead of the flag off, describing it as part of the foundation’s approach to ensure continuity and impact.
The founder said the foundation distributed start up equipment to graduating trainees, including sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdressing tools, soap making kits and bead making kits.
“These tools will allow the women to become self reliant in their local communities. Our focus is mainly on women in rural areas across all local governments in Kano State,” she said.
Uju-Obiaeli disclosed that the foundation plans to empower at least 3,000 women and youths in Kano State in batches, noting that the programme would continue both before and after Ramadan.
She said, “By next week and in the coming weeks, we will continue this empowerment in batches. On or before Ramadan, or immediately after, we expect to have covered about 3,000 women and youths in Kano State.”
She also revealed plans to expand the programme to other states, adding that youths would benefit from digital literacy training aimed at improving computer skills and employability.
On government support, Uju-Obiaeli said the Kano State Government and the Presidency had provided backing for the initiative.
“The governor of Kano State has given us 100 per cent support. Representatives of the governor and the Presidency are here today. We are also supported by reputable companies and international organisations,” she added.
Also speaking, Ambassador Hussein Coomassie, Head of Mission of the International Peace Commission Nigeria and Global Vice Chairman of the International Commission for Peace and Good Governance, said his organisations were key partners in the programme.
He said, “We are partnering with the Queen Juliet Endowment Foundation to empower one million women and youths during President Tinubu’s administration, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Coomassie explained that Kano was chosen as the starting point for the northern phase of the programme.
“We insisted that this phase should start in Kano because of its strategic position in the North. From here, the programme will spread to other northern states like Katsina, while similar efforts continue in the South,” he said.
He stressed that poverty alleviation was a gradual process and called for broad based support.
“Poverty cannot be eliminated overnight. This programme needs the support of government, individuals and organisations for it to achieve its ambitious goal,” Coomassie added.
