Women’s empowerment will take centre stage in Benin City on Friday, February 20, 2026, as Women Helping Women (WHW), in partnership with the Edo State Government, hosts the graduation ceremony of the pioneer students of its Vocational Hub. The event is themed “From Skills to Sustainability: Dreams Are Becoming A Reality.”
The landmark ceremony, titled “Design Her Future, Equip Her Hands,” will take place at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy from 10:00 a.m. It is expected to attract dignitaries, policymakers, development partners, and advocates committed to advancing women’s empowerment and sustainable development in Nigeria.
According to the organising committee, the ceremony goes beyond a conventional graduation to celebrate resilience, transformation, and strategic investment in human capital. “This is not just about certificates,” Emmanuel Okoye, a member of the organising committee, noted. “It is about women who dared to believe in new possibilities, women who committed to learning practical skills, and women who are now stepping into economic independence.”
The event highlights strong collaboration between civil society and government institutions in promoting inclusive development. The Father of the Day is the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, whose administration has reiterated its commitment to youth- and women-focused empowerment initiatives. Serving as Mother of the Day is Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, underscoring institutional support for gender-responsive programmes. The Chairman of the Event is Honourable Crosby Eribo.
Other distinguished guests expected at the ceremony include Eugenia Abdala, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edo State; Lawretta Ogboro Okor, Director-General, Edo State Diaspora Agency; and Onome Briggs, Executive Chairman, Edo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education. Their participation reflects a multi-sectoral commitment to strengthening vocational education, women’s enterprise development, and diaspora-linked growth opportunities.
The pilot graduation marks the successful completion of intensive vocational and entrepreneurial training by the first cohort of beneficiaries at the Women Helping Women Vocational Hub in Benin City. The initiative was designed to equip women with hands-on, income-generating skills that enable them to move from vulnerability to viability and, ultimately, financial sustainability.
The Chief Host of the event and visionary leader of Women Helping Women (WHW), Apostle Professor Elizabeth Pedro, has consistently emphasised that empowerment must extend beyond charity. Under her leadership, WHW has evolved into an international nonprofit network with a presence in countries such as Canada, Ghana, and South Africa, while retaining its operational base in Edo State. The Vocational Hub stands as one of the organisation’s flagship interventions, providing a structured platform where training meets transformation.
Professor Pedro’s empowerment philosophy centres on equipping women with practical skills, building confidence, offering mentorship, and creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods. The graduation ceremony serves as a tangible demonstration of this philosophy in action.
Participants in the pioneer cohort underwent structured training in practical, market-relevant skills aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and self-reliance. In addition to technical instruction, the programme integrates business management, financial literacy, and personal development, ensuring that beneficiaries emerge as empowered economic actors.
In an economic environment marked by unemployment and underemployment—particularly among women—initiatives such as this address a critical gap by providing access to quality vocational training that translates into real economic opportunities.
Development experts have long maintained that women’s economic empowerment generates a multiplier effect, improving household stability, strengthening educational outcomes for children, and enhancing community resilience. Women Helping Women’s model reflects this understanding by offering free training and nurturing peer support networks that extend beyond individual capacity building.
The graduation ceremony will feature testimonials from beneficiaries whose stories reflect the transformative impact of structured empowerment. For many of the graduates, the programme represents a second chance—an opportunity to rewrite their economic narratives and redefine their futures.
