Women

Although she is no more in the State House, Aisha Audu-Emeje, former first lady of Kogi State, is still committed to helping the poor and youths in the state to be self-sustaining

|  By Augustine Adah  |  Dec. 17, 2012 @ 01:00 GMT

AISHA Audu Emeje, former first lady of Kogi State, has unwavering commitment to uplift the standard of the poor and the vulnerable in the society. A3 Foundation, a non-profit organisation, which she established some years ago, has been working to put smiles on the faces of the poor, the widows, and the sick in the society. To accomplish the set objectives, the former first lady partners with local and international organisations.

In July this year, A3 Foundation signed a partnership agreement with Leadership Initiatives, LI, of the United States, to train some selected rural dwellers of Kogi State in some five identified business areas such as information technology, tailoring, welding, soap making, and fashion designing. After the training, the candidates would be empowered to start their businesses. To kick start the programme, Audu-Emeje made a personal commitment of about $103,000 at a ceremony that was witnessed by many Nigerians in Washington, US.

She said the purpose of the project was to raise local entrepreneurs among the rural communities of Kogi State. “Our primary focus in the deal is to make people entrepreneurs,” Audu-Emeje said.

A3 Foundation also works with Igala Project Group in the rehabilitation of Ajetachi Primary School, Anyigba, Kogi State, this year. Similar gestures were also extended to a school in Okene. Among organisations and groups that have received materials and cash gifts from A3 Foundation are the Dawn of Life Foundation, a leprosy treatment centre in Aba, Abia State, and Ekundayo Children’s Home Orphanage, Yagba-East, Kogi State.

It has similarly paid medical bills of more than 200 patients at Grimmad Hospital, Anyigba, and also paid the training expenses of some youths who underwent skill training in tailoring, driving and computer appreciation. Audu-Emeje belongs to many organisations both in Nigeria and the US, including Global Women Africa Network, GLOW. The organisation has been empowering African women, both at home and in the diaspora, through skills acquisition.

Audu-Emeje plans to host the Africa Global Partnership Summit in the first quarter of 2013 in the US. Born on July 17, 1968, in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Audu-Emeje was the first lady of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance from American International University, Illionis. She also has an Honorary Doctorate from Pebbles University in the US.

She has established many companies in different sectors of the economy, including agribusiness real estate, power and energy among others. Some of the companies are, Aiba Voltex Services Limited, Tuscal Nigeria Limited. She has received several awards at home and abroad for her good works.

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