Her efforts to empower the less privileged and support the government is said to be one of the most outstanding among the lots, who follow the same passion as Dr Siju Iluyomade, the convener of Arise Women (AW) Foundation.
Regardless of religion, tribe and ethnicity, Siju, as she is fondly called, has continued to give her all to better the lives of many, using her foundation to intervene in many areas of human needs. This trait of hers, many agreed, resonated with the birth of the Non-Government Organisation (NGO).
Siju is known to have nurtured charitable hopes and determination to help women thrive in life. She also institutionalised the Handmaidens Women in Leadership Series (HWILS) to build intentional leaders.
While speaking recently during one of her programmes, Siju, who clocked 58 on Saturday, January 8, 2022, celebrated her birthday by giving out to the less privileged in different parts of the country.
She said, “My dream is to make sure AW affects every part of human life globally in terms of health, housing, education, empowerment, farming and many more.”
The gorgeously beautiful woman of substance furthered: “In the last 14 years, we have achieved so much by putting structures like hospitals, schools, computerised library, and boreholes among others in communities like Dafara, Kabusa in Abuja, Ondo, Imo, Kebbi and Lagos.” The Arise COVID-19 Clinic, through her initiative also has been activated where Booster and COVID-19 vaccines have been given to people through support from the Lagos State government.
A lawyer of many decades, through her humanitarian work, has also branded a food basket called ‘Arise Pink Bucket.’ The content includes food items such as rice, semovita, tomato paste, oil, etc. The Arise Pink Bucket which distribution has already commenced in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government (LG) was also distributed to every LG in Lagos State.
The founder, Dr Siju Iluyomade has always been in the news for her outstanding achievement in empowering women through her many pet projects like the Arise Women and Handmaidens, women in Leadership series. She is known to always gather over 5000 women together annually to praise God and help one another.. Give it to her, the original legacy builder as she is fondly called, Dr Siju has impacted the lives of many through her programme and she continues to expand her horizon as she supports and empower women across the globe. The founder of Arise Women is a lawyer by profession with over 35 years of post-call experience. She has been in legal practice with her husband, Idowu Iluyomade since 1987 and is a founding partner in the law firm Iluyomade & Co. Her formative years were spent at Queens College Lagos, an all-rites boarding school and there she realized early that women enjoy each other’s company and draw strength from each other. This informed her decision to start the Handmaidens, over 20 years ago as a vehicle to empower women to fulfil their destinies in Christ. It was birthed as a Faith and Life clinic. She is the MD/CEO of Handmaidens Women in Leadership Series (WiLS),. Also, she is the convener of “Behind Closed Doors”, targeted at addressing root issues and bringing out The Total Woman in every woman.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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