WOLMEI Marks 13 Years Of Service, Unveils Vision For Women’s Centre As Calls Grow For Greater Support For Vulnerable Nigerians

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Stella Omona

Thirteen years after its establishment, the Women of Like Minds Empowerment Initiative (WOLMEI) has celebrated a remarkable journey of humanitarian service, women empowerment and community development, while unveiling plans to establish a dedicated Women’s Centre aimed at expanding support for women, children and vulnerable groups across Nigeria.

The anniversary celebration in Abuja at the weekend, attended by government officials, development advocates, women leaders, civil society organisations and beneficiaries, provided an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s impact and chart a course for future interventions.

Speaking at the event, the President and Founder of WOLMEI, Dr. (Mrs.) Lauretta Achudume, described the occasion as more than a celebration of longevity.

“Today is not merely a celebration of years. It is a celebration of impact, resilience, service and the collective determination of women and men who have chosen to make a difference in the lives of others,” she said.

Achudume traced the organisation’s beginnings to a simple but ambitious vision of empowering women, strengthening families and creating opportunities for vulnerable members of society.

“Thirteen years ago, Women of Like Minds Empowerment Initiative was founded on a simple but powerful vision—to empower women, uplift families, support vulnerable groups and create opportunities that enable individuals and communities to thrive,” she said.

Over the years, she noted, the organisation has recorded significant achievements through skills acquisition programmes, entrepreneurship support, educational interventions, mentorship initiatives and advocacy campaigns.

“We celebrate women who have moved from dependence to self-reliance through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship support. We celebrate young girls who have gained confidence and hope through education and mentorship programmes. We celebrate families whose lives have been transformed through our interventions and community development initiatives,” she stated.

According to her, WOLMEI has remained committed to promoting gender equality, economic inclusion, education, healthcare awareness, leadership development and social protection through strategic partnerships with government agencies, development organisations and private-sector stakeholders.

One of the major highlights of the anniversary was the announcement of plans to establish a Women’s Centre that will serve as a hub for empowerment programmes and skills acquisition.

“That is what brings us to the Women’s Centre. We will be establishing a Women’s Centre where we will empower women, empower children and provide opportunities for skills acquisition, alongside several other programmes and projects that will run in the centre,” Achudume announced.

She stressed that despite the organisation’s achievements, significant challenges remain, particularly for women and girls facing barriers to education, healthcare, economic participation and leadership opportunities.

“Empowerment is not an event; it is a continuous process.
Across our nation, many women and girls continue to face barriers to education, economic participation, leadership opportunities, healthcare and social protection. These realities call for renewed commitment and stronger partnerships,” she said.

The WOLMEI founder appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists, development agencies and community leaders to partner with the organisation in scaling interventions that create lasting social impact.

Supporting the Most Vulnerable
As part of activities marking the anniversary, WOLMEI undertook a humanitarian outreach to a school for visually impaired children, donating essential educational and mobility materials.

According to Achudume, the organisation conducted a needs assessment before procuring and donating items including Braille machines, Braille papers, typewriters, walking aids, bean bags, food supplies and other educational materials.

“We visited the School of the Blind and donated items based on their identified needs. We purchased Braille machines, Braille papers, typewriters, walking aids, food items and other materials to support the students. This formed part of our anniversary outreach project,” she explained.

The celebration also featured the empowerment of selected women beneficiaries, reinforcing the organisation’s long-standing commitment to improving livelihoods and promoting economic independence.

Founder and Convener of Marvelous Friends International, Dame Dr. Tumini Akogun, praised Achudume’s dedication to humanitarian service and described her as a compassionate leader who consistently advocates for the welfare of vulnerable people.

“I support the charity work being carried out by Women of Like Minds Empowerment Initiative because the president is someone I know very well. She is deeply involved in the welfare of the most needy in society,” Akogun said.

She noted that Achudume’s humanitarian disposition has earned her respect among development advocates and members of the Marvelous Friends International network.

Offering insight into the organisation’s journey, former Vice President of WOLMEI, Dr. Ruth Davies Ibiamu, revealed that much of the organisation’s work over the past 13 years has been sustained through the personal sacrifices and contributions of members.
Ibiamu, who served as Vice President for ten years, described the organisation as a platform dedicated to empowering women, supporting vulnerable families and investing in education.

“We take care of women, especially indigent and vulnerable women in society. We empower them and follow through to ensure that those empowerment programmes actually work,” she said.
She added that WOLMEI also runs educational projects that support children from their formative years through secondary school.

Reflecting on the organisation’s funding challenges, Ibiamu disclosed that support from government agencies and international donors has been minimal.

“Honestly, it has been the women. We only get support from individuals during special events like this. Most of what we do comes from our personal businesses and resources. We contribute what God has blessed us with and use it to serve our communities,” she explained.

According to her, the only notable government assistance came during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Apart from the COVID period, when government provided palliatives for distribution, we have not received significant government support. We have also not had any international donor support. Everything you see today is what we have achieved by ourselves,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the organisation’s growing impact would attract development partners in the future.

“We are now 13 years old, and we hope international donors will come and support us because this is a worthy cause. It is a worthy cause.”

The event attracted several prominent personalities, including the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, the National President of the National Council for Women’s Societies (NCWS), representatives of UN Women in Nigeria, and former First Lady of Imo State, Dr. Ifeoma Okorocha, among others.

The dignitaries commended the organisation for its contributions to women’s empowerment, humanitarian services and community development, describing WOLMEI as a model of grassroots-driven social intervention.

As the organisation looks ahead to the future, Achudume urged members and partners not to focus solely on past achievements but to remain committed to expanding opportunities for vulnerable Nigerians.

“Let us not only look back with pride but also look forward with purpose. Let us continue to build bridges of opportunity, nurture future generations and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.

For WOLMEI, the 13th anniversary was not merely a milestone; it was a reaffirmation of a mission to uplift lives, strengthen communities and inspire hope for generations to come.