Women Helping Women (WHW) for a Sustainable Tomorrow Foundation has graduated another twenty students from its tailoring skill acquisition program founded by Professor Elizabeth Pedro. The Foundation officially presented full tailoring machines to each student, along with WHW certificates and NABTECH certificates, with many of the students graduating with distinctions.
In her speech, the CEO of the organization, Professor Pedro, explained that helping women has been her childhood dream, which has now become a reality. She noted that there were many difficulties in establishing WHW, but the organization has now gained recognition and is operating in no fewer than twenty-two countries globally.
The dignitaries in attendance were:
- Hon. Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Chief Mrs. Bisi Idaomi
- Coordinator of the Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Mariam Aina Balogun
- ENAW Women Affairs Coordinator-Elect, Boston, Dr. Frances Abiemwense Igiebor
- President, Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO), Comrade Dr. Bartholomew Okoudo
- The Oduma of Austria, Chief Amenaghawon Henry
- President, Artisans Development and Networking Organization, Comrade Engr. Ugiagbe Osamuyime Xtre
In her address, Hon. Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Bisi Idaomi, commended the initiative. She encouraged the students not to take the opportunity for granted.
Idaomi said:
"It gives me immense pleasure to be here today at the Women Helping Women for a Sustainable Tomorrow Foundation sewing machine distribution event. I sincerely appreciate the invitation by the CEO, Global President and Founder of this Foundation, Professor Elizabeth Pedro, and I commend her for the remarkable initiative of empowering women and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Today's event is a clear demonstration that empowering women with practical skills and productive tools is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and strengthen families."
The NAOWA Coordinator, Mrs. Aina Balogun, also spoke. She described the initiative as God-sent to bless humanity and lift women out of poverty to sustainability.
"Thanks to Professor Pedro for having the heart and the love for women," she said. "Women have been left behind, but we have come to say we will bring them forward. To the participants, the machine may look small, but for a woman who has been waiting for a chance, it means income, children's school fees, house rent, and feeding money. It is food on the table. It is independence. It is a new story for a woman and her community."
Dr. Frances Abiemwense Igiebor, ENAW Women Affairs Coordinator-Elect in Boston, lauded Professor Pedro. She expressed gratitude for someone who is passionate about what she planned to do, only to discover that Professor Pedro had already started doing it.
"She talked to me about how she has been basically self-funding and pushing this through by herself, and I do not know what is more laudable than what she has done. I really appreciate the effort you are putting in, and I say congratulations once again, ma'am," Igiebor said.
Igiebor said what WHW has done is an example for everyone in the diaspora. She called on and encouraged everyone in the diaspora to come home for development, saying "home is home." She added: "See Professor Pedro with what she is doing — taking people, training them, and going further to give them tools as capital to start on their own."
Speaking at the event, the President of CONGO, Comrade Dr. Bartholomew Okoudo, appreciated Professor Pedro. He testified to her effort, saying that to do this singlehandedly is like a government on her own, and that this goes beyond what government alone can do for the beneficiaries.
Speaking to the beneficiaries, Okoudo said: "I want to thank you for your resilience. I want to thank you for being able to go through this training to the end."
Echoing other speakers who described the training and free machine as "house rent, school fees, and food on the table," Okoudo shared an experience from other skill acquisition programs where some participants sold off the equipment and capital given to them. He pleaded with these participants not to do that.
He urged the participants to go and succeed and then come back to help other women. Okoudo finally appreciated Professor Pedro for the initiative and prayed that God would help her to do more.
The Oduma of Austria, Chief Amenaghawon Henry, thanked Professor Pedro for this vision. He said he and others were present to support and partner with the initiative and the Global President. Chief Amenaghawon also supported the organization with a sewing machine.
The President of the Artisans Development and Networking Organization, Comrade Engr. Ugiagbe Osamuyime Xtre, called it a rare opportunity, noting that it is not easy to get such equipment. He encouraged the students to utilize the opportunity to become greater, and said receiving this is not the end. He added that there is more to do, including self-development, to make the Professor proud, and urged the students to come together to form a bond and give back to the organization that empowered them.
Meanwhile, in an interview with journalists, Professor Pedro explained that she did not come to Edo for this program only because she was born and raised in Edo. She said she has a passion for women.
The WHW founder also stated that she had been running the program outside Nigeria before realizing it was time to come to Edo to give back to where she comes from. She further explained that it would not have been complete if Benin were not included in the history of beneficiaries.
Professor Pedro also called on leaders to support and partner with the organization to help women. Speaking on challenges that can hold women back, such as pregnancy or motherhood, she announced the establishment of a daycare for participants so they can leave their children there. She explained that motherhood should not be an excuse to keep women backward, stagnated, or trapped in poverty.
Professor Pedro also spoke about plans for women to learn computer skills, as the world is going global and technology is advancing. She said women will be left behind again if they are not included in this.
She announced that another batch will start in September 2026, while registration begins on August 3, 2026. The phone line for inquiries is (+234) 907-114-7565.
The CEO of WHW specially appreciated Dr. Loretta Oduware for her support and encouragement.
The official presentation of results, certificates, and sewing machines was coordinated and handed over to the participants by the President of the organization as well as the other speakers.
