By Daisy Osunde
The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women empowerment, education, and sustainable development through strategic partnerships, announcing plans to collaborate with the Agapé4All: Cromwell and Lilian Ibie Foundation to expand empowerment programmes across the state.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, made the commitment while delivering the keynote address at the Foundation’s 2026 Cromwell and Lilian Ibie Foundation Empowerment Outreach in Benin City.
Hon. Abdallah commended the Founder of the Foundation, Mrs. Carmen Uwaila Ibie, for her visionary leadership and dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable people through educational scholarships, business start-up support, vocational training, and other life-transforming interventions.
She noted that the Ministry shares the Foundation’s vision of empowering women, supporting education, and creating opportunities that improve the socio-economic well-being of Edo residents.
Urging beneficiaries to maximize the opportunities provided, the Commissioner encouraged them to remain focused on their goals and become agents of positive change within their communities.
«”This initiative reflects the power of compassion, opportunity, and investment in our people,” she said.»
Hon. Abdallah further pledged the Ministry’s continued collaboration with the Foundation on future programmes promoting empowerment, education, and sustainable development, noting that such initiatives align with Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Public Security and Safety, Rt. Hon. Festus Ebea, described Mrs. Ibie as an exceptional philanthropist whose humanitarian efforts have positively impacted countless lives. He urged beneficiaries to pay the kindness forward by extending similar support to others whenever they are able.
In his remarks, renowned legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Olayiwola Afolabi, praised the Foundation’s consistency, transparency, and humanitarian impact. He announced an annual donation of ₦500,000 to support its empowerment programmes and sustain its interventions.
The outreach also featured a financial literacy session titled “Little Money Can Make a Big Difference,” delivered by management consultant and financial literacy advocate Dr. Mrs. Mercy Bello Abu.
She described financial literacy as the ability to manage money wisely through prudent spending, regular savings, and creating additional income streams. She encouraged participants to adopt the simple acronym “SAM”—Save, Avoid Waste, and Make More—as a practical guide to financial discipline.
«”It is not how much money you have that matters, but how well you use it,” she advised.»
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Founder of the Foundation, Mrs. Carmen Uwaila Ibie, said the organisation was established to preserve the enduring legacy of her parents, Cromwell and Lilian Ibie, whose lives were defined by compassion, generosity, and selfless service to humanity.
«”Our greatest legacy is not measured by what we accumulate, but by the lives we touch, the hope we restore, and the opportunities we create for others,” she said.»
Mrs. Ibie explained that the Foundation’s scholarship programme was created to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent talented young people from accessing quality education. She added that the Foundation also supports women, widows, single mothers, and other vulnerable persons through business grants, vocational training, and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at promoting financial independence and sustainable livelihoods.
She announced that the empowerment outreach would become an annual programme, revealing that future editions would be implemented in partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Under the arrangement, the Ministry will identify deserving beneficiaries, while the Foundation will provide the financial resources for the interventions.
Some beneficiaries, both past and present, expressed gratitude to the Foundation, describing the support as life-changing and pledging to make the most of the opportunities to improve their lives and contribute positively to society.
The event attracted government officials, legal practitioners, development partners, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders, who commended the Foundation for its unwavering commitment to empowering vulnerable persons and promoting sustainable community development in Edo State.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of educational scholarships to three students, alongside cash grants, a grinding machine, and a weaving machine to beneficiaries to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
