Marvella Odili Is A Panelist At The Choose Africa Event

The "Choose Africa event", a brainchild of the French Agency for Development (Agence Française de Devéloppement) and PROPARCO was organized on April 14th at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, in partnership with the French Embassy, Nigeria.

The French Minister, Mr. Franck RIESTER speaking at the event

Our Founder, Marvella Odili, who was a panelist,  talked about her work of training and supporting marginalized women and youths to become entrepreneurs, as well as her experience as a participant at the Social and Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) in France. 

 

Marvella Odili speaking at the event

Country Director of Proparco, Mr. Jean GUYONNET-DUPERAT introducing the panelists

Other members of the panel were representatives from Rensource, UBA, Max.ng, and VEROD Capital.

 

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attractiveness, Mr. Franck RIESTER, who is on a working visit to Nigeria to strengthen Nigerian/French bilateral relations and strengthen the links between the French and Nigerian private sectors, gave a wonderful speech at the event.

 

France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jerôme Pasquier, on the right

The event was graced by the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jerôme Pasquier, and a host of other french diplomats.

 

The "Choose Africa" event gave participants the opportunity to interact, exchange ideas and build a good relationship. 

#ChooseAfrica

Marvella Odili Wins "1000 Entrepreneurs Challenge "

We are proud to announce our Founder/CEO, Marvella Odili, as one of the winners of the "1000 Entrepreneurs Challenge" for her project, "Connecting Marginalized Women To Technology and Development."

Marvella Odili 

Over the years, Marvella has economically empowered thousands of marginalized women and youths through skills-building; launched projects for the education of thousands of vulnerable children particularly girls; and advanced the rights of women and girls, through her non-profit organization,  Save Our Needy Organisation. 

As a part of the winning package, all winners were invited to the Africa-France Summit 2020 which was due to start on June 4, 2020 in Bordeaux, France. However, due to the present circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, all scheduled travels have been cancelled. 

All the winners who were selected from 53 countries in Africa, will have the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge from experts, network, gain visibility for their work and public and private funding from French and African partners of Digital Africa. 

See list of full winners here:

https://digital-africa.co/en/winners-1000/😀🥳

Connecting Marginalized Women To Technology and Development

Apply NOW for Save Our Needy's women empowerment program which offers FREE training on graphic design, website building, animation, and digital marketing.

Send application stating why you want to participate in the program, your location and full contact details to info@saveourneedy.org

Project Location: Lagos and Adamawa.

Eligibility: Age 18-40

Duration of program: 8 weeks 

Proudly supported by Fondation La France S'engage (FFE).

This project aims to inspire and encourage women to innovate.

Technology is for all: beyond generations, beyond gender, beyond borders, beyond professional and social inequalities.

Deadline extended to December 23^rd 2019.

Save Our Needy Launches New Program To Empower Marginalized Women In Nigeria

Save Our Needy recently launched a new program to promote women economic empowerment (WEE) program which will open doors to entrepreneurship, provide access to finance and tailored assistance for marginalized women in business.

Marginalized women are empowered with entrepreneurship skills.

Participants of the program are empowered with financial literacy skills.

The organization is committed to fostering women and girls economic inclusion, advancement and empowerment through entrepreneurship, support and development. We are working to assist marginalized women and girls break barriers to accessing finance and achieving business growth in order to provide for themselves and their families.

Marvella Odili, CEO, Save Our Needy with some of the participants of the program

Over the years, we have empowered many young people and women to start and grow their own small businesses, build wealth, create multiple streams of income, and achieve financial independence through skills and capacity-building training, financial literacy and life-skills education.

We empower and equip marginalized and vulnerable groups particularly women to prosper through holistic sustainable community based models by way of capacity building/trainings, access to finance, advocacy, networking and partnerships.

The skills building training and support helps marginalized women to start or grow their small businesses.

Our women economic empowerment programs have demonstrated that financial and social independence for women can bring about a significant improvement in the well-being of their families. We are committed to delivering real results that create transformational change for women and young people in Africa.

Marvella Odili (L) with some of the participants of teh program

Marvella Odili, CEO, Save Our Needy (2nd right) with some of the participants of the program.

Marvella Odili (2nd right) with some of the participants who expressed satisfaction at the program.

We are always excited and open to work with various funders and partners towards our mission to build sustainable livelihoods for 200,000 women by 2025.

François Hollande honours Marvella Odili

Founder and CEO of Save Our Needy Organisation, Marvella Odili, was honored with the French International Prize for her laudable work to ending extreme poverty in Africa through education and economic empowerment on April 18th. Her project, "Connecting Marginalized Women To Technology and Development" was selected as one of the 5 winners of the French International Prize which promotes women entrepreneurship, leadership, and technology.

Marvella thus became the first Nigerian to be honored with the Prize.

Marvella Odili (L) with François Hollande, ex- President of France

François Hollande with the 5 laureats of the French International Prize

François Hollande making an exceptional and inspiring speech

Marvella Odili making a speech about her project

L-R: Essivi Brigitte, Flora Ghebali, Marvella Odili, Sonia Nare and Nina Ratsirarson

L-R: Nina Ratsirarson, Sarah Allion, Sonia Nare, Marvella Odili, Chekeba Hachemi and Essivi Brigtte

Marvella Odili networking with some of the invited guests

Through her project, Marvella has empowered underserved young women with knowledge and skills in ICT, digital technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. 

L-R:Members of Fondation La France S'Engage Team with the laureats

Essivi Brigitte Acakpo-Addra making a speech about her project

Well laid-out reception table

Reception day

With this award, Marvella who has implemented her project in Lagos, Oyo and Delta States will be able to expand her project to reach other geo-political zones in Nigeria particularly Northern Nigeria.

Marvella Odili

Her award was presented to her by François Hollande, ex-President of France and President of Fondation La France S'engage (FFE) who gave an exceptional speech during the award reception ceremony at Paris.

Marvella Odili with Roxanne Varza, Head of F Station and Margaret Prize winner 2018.

L-R: Nina Ratsirarson, Sonia Nare, Essivi Brigitte Acakpo-Addra and Marvella Odili

L-R: Marvella Odili, François Hollande, Essivi Brigitte, Sonia Nare and Nina Ratsirarson

L-R: Marvella Odili, François Hollande, Essivi Brigitte, Sonia Nare and Nina Ratsirarson

Other winners of the Prize are Nina Ratsirarson from Madagascar, Chekeba Hachemi from Afghanistan, Essivi Brigitte Acakpo-Addra from Togo and Sonia Nare from Burkina Faso.

Save Our Needy Empowers Marginalized Girls and Women

Project SAVE (Skills Acquisition. Vocational training. Empowerment) ended on a high note as participants concluded free training on make-up artistry and gele (African headgear) tying. Makeup artistry and gele (African headgear) tying are very lucrative businesses in Nigeria today.

Make up artistry training session

Some of the participants practising the art of make up

Professional and skilled trainer, Abigail Zakari, at work

Some of the participants practising the art of make up

The 2-week intensive training program focused on empowering marginalized girls and women to become self-reliant. This has become a necessity given the present state of the Nigerian economy.

Trainer, Frank, teaches participants the art of gele tying

One of the participants tries her hands at gele tying

Although the program had schedule issues due to the scarcity of fuel and consequent hike in the price of public transportation, it went smoothly.

At the end of the training, the very enthusiastic participants were given certificates and business start-up tools to enable them start their own small businesses.

Marvella Odili (left), Founder/CEO, Save Our Needy presents a certificate to one of the participants

Selfie with some of the participants of the program