Nneka Chidoka Family Empowers Female Business Owners 

Ejiofor Alike 

In honour of what would have been Nneka Chidoka’s 76th birthday, her children have continued her legacy of compassion through the Nneka Chidoka Outreach Programme, with a grant of N100,000 each to female small business owners.

The late philanthropist and women leader passed last year after a 15-year battle with cancer, but her spirit lives on as her children have continued to support women.

According to a statement by the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka on behalf of her children, 10 women were selected and each received a N100,000 grant on Friday to grow their businesses, in fulfilment of their mother’s dream of empowering female entrepreneurs. 

The former minister revealed that he reached out on social media to female small business owners with a team of two to five staff.

“Ten women were selected from the overwhelming response and each received a N100,000 grant to grow their businesses—fulfilling our mother’s dream of empowering female entrepreneurs. 

“Membership in my Mekaria Mentorship Programme was a factor in our choice of grantees. All the recipients would undergo the Mekaria Mentorship Foundation Course,” the statement explained.

Chidoka, who was also the Corps Marshall of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), stated that “our mother’s 15-year battle with cancer, made possible by early diagnosis, fuels our commitment to providing the same opportunity for women in need.

“So far, we have screened over 2,000 women for cancer, facilitated 60 free surgeries, treated over 1,000 people, and paid school fees for 500 students in Obosi,” he added.

Chidoka added that these grants were more than just financial aid, stressing that they were part of a broader effort to uplift women in challenging times.

According to him, the grantees will also receive mentorship to further enhance their businesses. 

“As we continue to honour Nneka Chidoka’s legacy, I encourage those with resources to support female entrepreneurs in their community and vicinity,” Chidoka explained.