Foundation targets Lagos, Ekiti, Edo for empowerment initiative, seeks N250m

By Ebunoluwa Sessou & Matthew Johnson

The Patrick Ehiagwina Empowerment Foundation (PEEF), in partnership with the Heart of Gold Support and Care Initiative (HOGSCI), has launched a N250 million fundraising campaign to expand its education and empowerment programmes beyond Edo State, insisting that sustainable development can only be achieved by creating wealth rather than distributing handouts.

Speaking at the foundation’s 2026 Luncheon and Fundraiser, themed “Beyond the Handouts,” held in Lagos on Friday, June 26, 2026, the Co-founder and Convener of the foundation, Mrs. Patrick Ehiagwina, said the organisation remained committed to empowering vulnerable Nigerians through education, vocational skills acquisition and business start-up support rather than temporary relief.

According to her, the foundation’s philosophy is anchored on the belief that lasting solutions to poverty lie in equipping people with the capacity to become self-reliant.

“We don’t just give people fish; we teach them how to fish. Handouts only solve immediate needs, but empowering people with education and skills gives them a sustainable future,” she said.

Ehiagwina disclosed that over the past decade, the foundation has supported more than 3,000 indigent students through scholarships, school materials and other educational interventions spanning primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

She added that the organisation also provides vocational training, business start-up support for artisans, widows and other vulnerable persons, alongside its annual Christmas outreach programme.

She explained that this year’s expansion plan includes extending its Back-to-School initiative to communities in Lagos, Ekiti and Edo states, while calling on corporate organisations, government agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the foundation.

“We cannot achieve this alone. Collective support is necessary to create an environment where vulnerable people can realise their full potential,” she added.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Olanipekun Daramola said his passion for giving back stemmed from being a beneficiary of kindness earlier in life.

He stressed that philanthropy should go beyond financial donations to building structured and accountable systems capable of delivering measurable impact.

According to him, many interventions fail because beneficiaries are not adequately monitored.

“Education alone is not enough. Some people are better suited for vocational skills. What matters is identifying individual strengths, monitoring progress and ensuring accountability. Without accountability, such initiatives cannot be sustained,” he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Pagedia Group of Companies, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the two organisations, Mr. John Ighodalo, said the N250 million fundraising target would enable the organisations to extend their interventions beyond their traditional base in Edo State.

He noted that the foundation has spent between 12 and 15 years implementing programmes focused on education, vocational empowerment and support for widows.

“Our goal is to reduce social inequality by creating wealth, not merely fighting poverty. Government cannot do it alone. We need individuals and corporate organisations to join us in transforming lives,” he said.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Enya, urged Nigerians to embrace empowerment as a tool for nation-building, noting that every individual deserves an opportunity to succeed.

“The difference between success and failure is often access to opportunity. Rather than creating dependency through handouts, we should help people own the process of creating wealth,” he said.

The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Mr. Akeem Dauda, commended the foundation for its contributions to education, youth development and community empowerment.

Dauda described the organisation as a dependable development partner, noting that government alone could not meet the growing social and economic needs of citizens.

He particularly praised the foundation’s scholarship scheme and youth empowerment initiatives, urging it to sustain and expand its interventions.

The foundation said proceeds from the fundraiser would be used to expand its education, vocational training and community empowerment programmes across more states in Nigeria.

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