By Adeola Badru

A new housing initiative aimed at tackling property exclusion among widows and vulnerable women has been unveiled in Anambra State, even as over 2,000 women across Nigeria completed a nationwide vocational and entrepreneurial training programme designed to strengthen economic participation.

The President of the Starladies United Business Women Initiative, Mrs Nkiruka Maryrose Duru, announced the development during the presentation of empowerment tools to beneficiaries at the organisation’s office in Anambra State, held under its Women One World Supporting Programme.

Mrs Duru said the group’s ongoing community project, the UBWA Women One World Estate, located in Umudiala Village, Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area, is specifically targeted at widows and women who face persistent challenges in acquiring landed property and accessing decent housing.

According to her, the estate project is structured to promote property ownership among women, improve their standard of living and enhance family stability.

“Access to land and housing remains a major challenge for many widows and vulnerable women. Through the UBWA Women One World Estate, we are deliberately addressing that gap and giving women the opportunity to secure assets in their own names,” she said.

Speaking on the skills acquisition component of the programme, Mrs Duru disclosed that no fewer than 2,000 women from different parts of the country underwent a one-week intensive hands-on training in various vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

The training covered feed processing, drip irrigation installation, vegetable farming, tomato farming, soap making and ICT security.

She explained that each successful participant was provided with basic start-up tools to enable immediate practical application of the knowledge acquired.

“Our goal is not just to train but to ensure implementation. Every beneficiary received start-up tools so they can begin immediately and become economically independent,” Mrs Duru stated.

Describing economic empowerment as central to the organisation’s mission, she emphasised the broader societal impact of investing in women.

“Women are nation builders. When you empower a woman, you empower a family and the entire community,” she added.

Mrs Duru further assured that beneficiaries would be closely monitored to ensure effective utilisation of both the tools distributed and the skills acquired during the training.

She reaffirmed that the Starladies United Business Women Initiative would continue to champion women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship development and community advancement across Nigeria, maintaining that sustainable national development is unattainable without deliberate investment in women’s economic security and property rights.

Also speaking at the event, Hon. Chinenye Okpalachukwu commended the Local Government Area coordinators for their dedication and commitment to the vision of the organisation, noting that their grassroots efforts were instrumental to the successful execution of the programme nationwide.