For Cohort 1, the Foundation worked with the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Oyo State Chapter, to identify and support 95 women entrepreneurs. The beneficiaries received vocational and business management training, alongside equipment and access to capital designed to help them strengthen and grow their businesses.
Speaking at the programme, the Director and Board Secretary of the JAALS Foundation, Dr. Tolu Aderemi, explained that Project 250 was deliberately designed to move beyond the conventional model of empowerment programmes that stop at training.
“Our objective is not simply to train women and leave them to figure out what comes next. We want to provide the tools, knowledge and access to capital required to turn skills into sustainable livelihoods.”
He further explained that the Foundation’s broader mission is centred on empowering vulnerable Nigerians while advocating for an accessible, fair and reformed justice system.
Project 250 therefore combines three critical components: skills development, productive equipment and access to capital. Through the partnership with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), beneficiaries also gained access to financial support to enable them to put their training and resources to productive use.
The programme was further strengthened by the partnership and support of the Atilade Oluokun Foundation and NASME Oyo State Chapter.
The Foundation was also honoured by the presence of Chief (Mrs.) Ajibike Lawal, Wife of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, and Alhaja Faosat Ajoke Sanni, Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion. Both speakers commended the initiative and encouraged the beneficiaries to make deliberate use of the skills, equipment and financial support provided to build sustainable businesses.
For the women who participated, the programme represents more than a training intervention. It is an opportunity to strengthen existing businesses, acquire new skills, improve household incomes and take greater control of their economic futures.
Cohort 1 is an important milestone for Project 250, but it is only the beginning.
The JAALS Foundation is committed to expanding the initiative beyond Oyo State and reaching its broader target of 250 women across Nigeria, while continuing to build partnerships with government institutions, financial institutions, development organisations, foundations and private-sector organisations that share the vision of inclusive economic empowerment.
Project 250 is our commitment to turning opportunity into action and action into lasting impact.
At JAALS Foundation, we remain committed to advancing justice beyond the courtroom by empowering people, strengthening communities and contributing to a more just and inclusive society.