…launches empowerment initiative

By Nwankpa Chijioke, Port Harcourt

The Engraced Life Foundation (ELF), a non-governmental and non-profit organization, has raised concern over the persistent stigmatization faced by breast cancer survivors in Nigeria, while advancing a structured empowerment programme aimed at restoring dignity, independence, and long-term wellbeing.

Speaking at the orientation and breakfast meeting for the Empowered Survivors Aftercare Initiative (ESAI) in Port Harcourt, the Founder, Mrs. Ethel Olomu, emphasized the urgent need for society to move beyond outdated perceptions and embrace survivors with empathy and understanding.

She explained that the foundation was established from her lived experience as a breast cancer survivor over 15 years ago, at a time when awareness was low and the condition was widely misunderstood.

“At the time, cancer was seen almost as a taboo. Many believed it was spiritual or even contagious. I experienced isolation and stigma firsthand, with little support outside my immediate family,” she said.

Mrs. Olomu noted that while awareness has improved over the years, many survivors still face rejection, emotional trauma, financial instability, and, in some cases, marital breakdown.

The ESAI programme, she explained, is designed as a holistic aftercare and empowerment model that goes beyond medical recovery. It focuses on equipping survivors—particularly indigent women—with practical skills, business knowledge, mentorship, and psychosocial support.

The current cohort of beneficiaries is being supported through funding provided by the International Cancer Foundation (ICF), enabling participants to undergo training, receive start-up resources, and access ongoing guidance as they rebuild their lives.

“We are not just training them; we are walking with them. After skill acquisition, we provide start-up support and continuous mentorship to ensure they become economically independent and successful,” she added.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Advisers, Dr. Ufuoma Edewor, highlighted the multidimensional impact of breast cancer, noting that survivors often face overwhelming financial, emotional, and psychological burdens.

“Some survivors are abandoned, while others exhaust their life savings on treatment. This initiative is designed to help them rebuild their lives through sustainable means of livelihood,” she said.

Dr. Edewor explained that the six-month programme includes training in practical skills such as baking, soap making, fashion design, and production of household items, alongside business management education to ensure long-term sustainability.

On programme structure and delivery, the National Coordinator and Project Manager of ESAI, Tamunotonye Daniel, stressed that the initiative integrates mental health, medical follow-up, and mentorship into its framework.

“What makes this programme unique is that we are not stopping at skills acquisition. Participants have access to therapists, medical professionals, and mentors who guide them through recovery, reintegration, and economic stability,” she said.

She added that beneficiaries will receive intensive training in the first phase, followed by five months of structured post-training support to ensure continuity and measurable impact.

Daniel further emphasized accountability and evaluation as central to the programme’s design, noting that the pilot phase with a small cohort is intended to refine the model before scaling to reach more survivors.

The foundation also used the platform to call for increased awareness and early detection, urging women to prioritize regular health checks and seek prompt medical attention when abnormalities are noticed.

“Breast cancer does not define your worth. Whether with or without a breast, every woman remains whole, valuable, and deserving of a full life,” Mrs. Olomu stated.