Abike's Career Empowerment 4.0 Seminar

Of the 4 programmes under ACE 4.0 Project, one changed in form and in name. It was meant to be a leadership seminar but reaching our partner became impossible. Yet we knew that we couldn't keep our audience waiting. So it was for a reason we changed it from the Young Leader's Seminar to ACE 4.0 Seminar. It was also for a reason we changed the name from Anne's Cafe Empowerment to Abike's Career Empowerment. We decided to localise the initiative and spread it to reach more people in need of our services.

There were 4 beneficiaries (Encouragement Initiatives, Treasure Field Youths, Staff of Laredo Ventures and members of Widows And Development Support Services and members of the Ikere Youth Coalition/Parishioners at St. Luke Church Uro Ikere) for the ACE Seminar but to date we have received another 4 invitations which only you our friends can help us meet. Each of the beneficiaries received training worth N40, 000. When Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former attorney general of Lagos State and Pastor of Olive Tree asked, "Would this project continue?" sadly I responded, "Not quite, I wish I had the funds!" To ensure I deliver on the promise we made last November when we jumpstarted ACE 4.0 Project, I have denied myself many things, I have knocked on doors, I have gone the extra mile yet I only succeeded because I had God's wind beneath my wings and the weight of family and friends especially my husband, partners, mother, siblings and old school mates stood solidly behind me.

The very first beneficiary and grand prize winner of the ACE 4.0 Seminar was Encouragement Initiative. Though EI benefitted first from 2 cash awards to two of the children in their care and the Sandals for Soles vision for which we partnered with EI at Odogbolu, ACE Project could not deny EI the benefit of the ACE Seminar through which we delivered a paper titled, Supporting the Less privileged: Implications for Africa, which impacted the lives of participants in no small ways.

Rights and Responsibilities was the theme of the talk we gave to Treasure Field Youths. We looked at the role of the government, parents and teachers in leading young people aright. We also looked at the responsibilities attached to the rights many young people lay claim too. It shocked many of them to discover that rights aren’t free lunches but a call to order with expectation that should be met. Following the empowerment seminar, we shared snacks and gifts and participants were full of thanks.

The next point of call was Laredo Ventures International where a 2-day seminar was held for administrative and kitchen/logistic staff members of the fast growing company. While the focus on day 1 was communication in 4 different phases – Chair (Boss), Client, Colleagues, Community, the second day focused on Professionalism in the Hospitality Industry. The participants asked many questions and craved our indulgence for a return match. It was the very first formal training they had; we were delighted that the company was nominated and approved to benefit because the entrepreneur behind Laredo - Mr. lanre Jimoh - has been an ardent supporter of Cares Global Network since inception!

When we decided to extend the ACE 4.0 Empowerment Seminar to the Widows And Development Support Services we did not realise they had moved from their Ikoyi office. When this dawned on us, we almost cancelled but God came through and made provision for transportation to their new location at Kilometre 46 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. We spoke on The Place of Empowerment in Grief, Translating Pain to Public Speaking and extended the Hair Accessories Training (HAT) to the participants through our experienced consultant - Modupe Odubanjo. They were all so excited to learn things that could be done easily and profitably. Pain was equally lifted from their curriculum and they all left for home with smiles that remained long after we were done.

Following the invitation to serve, we also expended the benefit to the organisers and participants of Made In Nigeria. This talk saw us sharing about the 4 cardinal points to creating a Made In Nigeria we can all be proud of: Talent, Training, Time and Trust. The growing generation must position themselves to add value and show pride in the name we all lay claim to - Nigeria.

Of the other four that invited us, we have so far honoured the members of the Ikere Youth Coalition/Parishioners at St. Luke Church Uro Ikere Ekiti. Though we had planned this as a separate activity, the Executive Director of Global Network for Community Development - Ms. Kemi Oyewole and Vice President of the Youth Ministry at St. Luke Ikere - Mr. Niyi Oladunjoye, worked  with the Vicar to ensure the seminar was carried out with the entire church in attendance including the Ogoga of Ikere! The theme was Sise Atunko Irinisi Nigeria, a talk that was delivered in flawless Yoruba language which challenged the Vicar and many parishioner. The Ikere Youth Coalition had come together as a community development group set to impact Ikere but were yet to jumpstart their start-up initiative – One Month, One Talk. We became the very first guest speaker as we spoke on Building Nigeria’s Image, a link to the Ikere Community. The Vicar was so touched by the delivery that, on behalf of the church, he immediately ordered 25 copies each of our best selling books, "What is wrong with us" and "Just Sharing"at discount prices of N500 and N1000 respectively..

We enjoin you to support us as we share the love of God through which we are helping others to live, love, laugh and learn.