Jamiu Abubakar
– Founder, Matilda David Foundation, Mrs. Folashade Afolabi
A few days ago, popular Lagos businesswoman and philanthropist, Mrs. Folashade Afolabi, founder of the Matilda David Foundation (MDF), hosted the 7th Annual Graduation and Widows’ Day Ceremony of the foundation.
The colourful event marked the graduation of beneficiaries who underwent an intensive 10-month vocational training programme, with 40 new entrepreneurs officially inducted—young men and women now equipped to thrive in their chosen industries.
In addition, over 350 widows benefitted from the foundation’s annual Widows’ Day outreach, each receiving 10kg bags of rice and cash support, putting smiles on many faces.
Dignitaries at the event included Chairman of SIFAX Group and husband of the founder, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi; Director, SIFAX Group, Mrs. Wumi Gegede; Founder/CEO of Avila Naturalle, Dr. Temitope Mayegun, among others, whose presence added glamour and significance to the occasion.
In this interview with Citypeople reporter, Jamiu Abubakar, Mrs. Afolabi speaks on the inspiration behind MDF, its impact over the past seven years, and her vision for the future.
Congratulations on the 7th edition of Matilda David Foundation. How did you come up with the name of the foundation?
Thank you very much. Matilda and David are the names of my mother and father. When I lost them, I felt led to start a skills acquisition foundation in their memory. I officially started it on my 50th birthday. From there, we kept building gradually, and today we are here celebrating our 7th graduation ceremony.
How many students are graduating today?
Today, we are graduating about 40 students. Before COVID-19, we used to have over 100 participants per batch, but the pandemic affected us seriously. People were scared, and we had to put health measures in place, including having a doctor on standby. Due to space and safety concerns, we reduced the number. We use a full building close to our office to run all our vocational courses.
What courses are currently available at the foundation?
We offer catering and confectioneries, gele making, makeup, salon services, graphic design, shoe making, and fashion design. We are also considering adding photography and bead making. We tried bead making once and it didn’t work out, but we are confident photography will be successful.
Beyond preserving your parents’ legacy, what informed this initiative and what do you hope to achieve?
What truly inspired me is the reality of Nigeria today. We have reached a point where people need extra sources of income. The honest way to survive is to have a skill—something you can do with your hands.
Even if you have a paid job, you can still come home and make shoes, bake cakes, or offer makeup services. Even graduates can open salons or become professional makeup artists. Makeup, for instance, is doing very well now.
Some of our graduates—especially those who trained years ago—are now established professionals. We once had a widow who insisted on learning shoemaking. I was surprised at first, but today she produces shoes for bankers and is doing extremely well. Stories like these keep us going.
What does the enrollment process look like?
We advertise every year, and enrollment usually starts in January. Interested applicants come for interviews, and we assess their seriousness. Once selected, they undergo medical screening and observation. Importantly, students pay nothing. Training, equipment, and materials are all provided free of charge through donations.
Is the programme limited to Lagos residents?
For now, our vocational training is based in Lagos. However, we run medical outreach programmes across different locations. Our next medical outreach is in Ijebu Ode, and we are considering setting up a centre there in the future—not because my husband is from there, but because of the need we have identified.
In seven years, how many youths have benefited from the foundation?
So far, we have empowered about 400 people through skills acquisition alone. That does not include widows and medical outreach beneficiaries. The widows’ support is done annually, and medical outreaches are carried out three to four times a year. We also support people with serious medical needs, including glaucoma surgeries.
What are your projections for the foundation in the coming years?
I pray that the foundation continues to grow and expands across Nigeria. But growth depends largely on support. My husband and I have tried our best, but we still need more partners and donors. With more support, we can reach many more lives.
What advice do you have for the graduating students?
We don’t just train and release our students. At graduation, we provide start-up kits and work tools, because learning a skill without equipment is like learning nothing. Our expectation is that they use these tools to build their future.
We once had a case where someone sold her equipment, and we were not happy about it. We intervened and corrected the situation. My advice is simple: use what you’ve been given, stay focused, and excel.
Thank you very much, Ma. Congratulations once again.
Thank you so much.
Source: CityPeopleOnline | Read the Full Story…
