ACE 4.0 Project

Some years ago, my Mum visited me at my Cares Global Network office in Ilupeju. On her way out, I decided to take a stroll with her in the hope of treating her to lunch at a nearby restaurant. We walked the length of Town Planning Way and there was no single eatery! That was before Sweet Sensation re-opened.

I had also noticed a number of young people who have resorted to selling recharge cards or drinks along the road where they endanger their lives by running after motorists in the hope of making a honest living. We counselled and encouraged some of them to return to school or learn a vocational skill but funding was a major obstacle. So we decided to partner with them under the Anne’s Café Empowerment (ACE) Project.

Anne’s Café came as an idea to fill the gap of available and affordable lunch for workers in and around Ilupeju. While I want to continue to empower young people, I wonder if we should restrict the empowerment to one idea or one location. Subsequently we changed the acronym to mean Anne's Career Empowerment (ACE).

While rethinking the idea, God brought to my remembrance how a seed of empowerment sowed into my self development some years ago enhanced what I do today. You must have read the story:

About 10 years ago, my friend's boyfriend seeing my desire and devotion to self development, gave me N10, 000 which I used as balance payment for my top notch computer training.

Their love did not survive (I mean my friend and her boyfriend), the training company went bankrupt (where is Tranter and the classy ExecuTrain today)... but the fruit from the seed is one I'm still savouring. That gift horned my typing skills, birthed my internet skills and changed the face of my writing talent forever. 

In celebration of 40 years of God's love and faithfulness, I am revisiting this initiative but instead of running it as a CGN project, I am inviting friends to join me in 4 laudable projects tagged #ACE 4.0 Project:

1. The ACE Awards: 
Organisations and Individuals who work with the less privileged will be invited to nominate 40 people for whom 10, 000 Naira will make a difference. Omolola and her friends will empower 40 Nigerians with the sum of 400, 000 Naira. 

These people need not be educated or on the internet, you will be responsible for nominating them. Please ensure that the nomination is not out of pity but out of the need to help and the assurance that the fund will be used as approved. Once your nominee is approved, you or our representative will present the money (or kit, equipment, product etc) to him/her, take a picture of the presentation and follow-up to ensure the money is used accordingly. Thereafter, you or our representative will report to us how the gift empowered the person.

10, 000 Naira may appear small but it can be the difference between one level and the other for someone, while it can be a life saver for another. Suggestions on what the money can be used for is as follows:

Small Scale Business e.g. Pure Water, Recharge Card

Educational Form & Lesson e.g. JAMB, WAEC 

Skill Training e.g. Computer, Tailoring, Hairdressing

School Uniform, Shoe & Bag

Medication or Hospital Bill
Educational Books   

2. ACE Career Conference
This will be carried out in the school through which God solidified the foundation of who I am today - Federal Government College Odogbolu. This is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2013 with neighbouring schools e.e. FGGC Sagamu, Odogbolu Comprehensive High School, Mayflower School Ikene in attendance.

3. ACE Singles Summit
This will be a special edition of Divine Connection's Mature Singles Summit. It will be organised in collaboration with religious organisations.

4. ACE Young Leaders Seminar
School Prefects and those with leadership traits across secondary schools will be invited to learn and glean from leaders and achievers. Unfortunately we were not able to organise this with the schools of our choice in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos. But to ensure we do not cancel this, we have transformed it into the ACE Seminar through which 4-8 organisations would benefit from training. 

How can you be a part of this initiative? 

I invite you to participate by praying for the vision, donating to the pool, nominating recipients and sharing the initiative with friends that can participate. Please email Omolola to let us know how you wish to participate.

You can support this initiative by being a DONOR or a NOMINATOR. Donors may give a minimum of N5, 000, £20, $30. Equivalent of N4, 000 goes to the nominee fund and balance takes care of logistics. Donations can be made directly to Ecobank Willows Magazine (ACE 4.0 Project) 013-004-01493561-01. Or email Omolola for details of payment options especially for residents of UK and USA.

You can also support by helping with the logistics to ensure the project is a success, this includes sharing ideas, actively participating in the Career Seminar and sponsoring resources needed.

If you are a journalist or have a social medium, kindly consider publicising the #ACE 4.0 Project.

In line with Romans 15:30, I urge you to join Omolola in prayers for the success of the initiative and that all participants (organisers, donors, nominators, nominees, media supporters and prayer partners) will be truly blessed and their lives will be positively impacted.

Together, we can positively impact 40 lives and build a new generation of Fegosians, one mustard seed at a time.

Thanks for supporting this laudable initiative.


L♥√ع Lifted Me...