SMILE 2025 Supports Women Entrepreneurs with Grants & Healthcare

• SMILE2025 focuses on livelihood programmes that support widows and young single mothers
• That puts together skilled manpower training, startup, and healthcare support under one umbrella
• A seed grant of ₦50,000 each to start or grow a small business

SMILE2025 is an empowerment project geared towards widows and single young women as they are most vulnerable.

The aim is to provide skills acquisition, startup, and health care. At this stage, this project is expected to impact at least 1,000 women and girls with skills acquisition capable of generating income in record time.

Of the training programmes included in the project is the training on the production of liquid soap. This training was chosen for the low cost involved in establishing it and the steady demand for its market.

Every individual taking part in the project benefits from an initial capital outlay of ₦50,000 for the establishment or expansion of their mini-business.

Organisers have indicated that the project aims for "skills that are within the reach of the people affected and adoptable with the ability to generate steady household incomes."

In addition to making liquid soap, some of the other trainings that beneficiaries will benefit from are running other small businesses involved in making snacks, zobo drink, fruit vending, and point of sale. These trainings are aimed at building their capacities and helping them grow their businesses.

Organizers highlighted that the upgrade of the economic capacity of widowed and single young mothers also has significant social benefits, which include improved assistance for the well-being and education of children.

Organizers also emphasized that the project is designed in a manner that enhances the resilience of the families while adding to the economic developments of the locality.

Another facet of the program is support in healthcare. The medical services will be free and include checks on blood pressure, screening for glucose and diabetes, and eye examinations, along with the distribution of essential medicines. These services shall be done with the help of medical professionals and volunteers to help address certain health challenges that do affect productivity and income.

The organisers, therefore, invite individuals, organisations and corporate bodies to support the programme through sponsorship of beneficiaries with contributions of ₦50,000 per head, supporting groups of women, or equipment, medical supplies and professional services such as health, mentorship and business advisory support.