Dolapo Oludakpo is passionate towards helping the needy, indigent and less privileged to achieve their dreams. Through her humanitarian foundation, Noble Women Help Centre, she is poised to give a better life to those who come her way. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports.
When Mrs.Dolapo Oludakpo decided to establish a non governmental organisation, she had purpose in her heart to put a gloss on humanity.
In an interview, the Visioner and Coordinator of Noble Women Help Centre(NWHC), Ibadan, Oyo State, noted that she is passionate about supporting others, empowering and encouraging women and children to be a better version of themselves. Hence, it is not coincidental that the centre had reached out to over 800 children and women.
Highlighting what the fledgling centre had done within a very short time, Oludakpo said:” In 2022, over 100 less privileged families were fed during the Christmas celebration. This year, hospital bills of over five pregnant women were paid, and school meal was provided for a motherless child whose father absconded, street outreach were done where we fed two hundred of people on the street. We also distributed baby essentials to new moms and babies during hospital visitations. In addition, 1,200 exercise books, school uniforms and sanitary pads were provided to special needs children during school visitations.
“We also helped register a boy with cerebral palsy for physiotherapy sessions, we also organised educative sessions for teenage girls on body hygiene. We donated food, sanitary pad, exercise books to orphanage homes. We also paid school and examination fees for children whose parents cannot afford it. Overall, we have reached out to over 800 children and women.”
The graduate of Dublin Business School noted that NWHC is committed to the welfare of everyone in need of various forms of help.
“At Noble Women Help Centre, we support the less privileged children, orphans, widow, single mothers in the society to have and live a better life. Our mission is to support and care for women and children irrespective of their background and race.
Specifically, we focus on provision of financial assistance, monthly foodstuff provision for widows, less privileged children and single mothers and provision of school lunch. We also provide support in training women who wish to start their own business and how they can effectively manage it,” she said.
Read Also: Abortion a sin against God, humanity – Uche Ogbodo
Giving an insight to her background,she said:”I was born in Ibadan; Oyo State and I grew up in London. I studied Healthcare Support, this allowed me to work with special needs families. I graduated from Dublin Business School where I studied Big Data for Business. I have supported homeless people in Ireland by sharing the necessity they need. I am passionate about supporting others, empowering and encouraging women and children to be a better version of themselves.”
On what inspired the coming of the centre, Oludakpo said: “By the special grace of God, I am privileged to be an instrument in God’s hand to pray with people most especially women and children. The name of the prayer group is Noble Women and when I got the leading from God to launch an NGO, I wanted the name to portray the vision God gave me and that’s how Noble Women Help Centre was formed. The meaning of the name Noble Women Help Centre, is a woman who builds (Proverbs 31, story of a wise woman who builds her house), Help Centre (there’s no one who runs to God that does not receive help); a place where those that need help can run to and receive help.
“When I was a little girl, I met some brilliant children, but they were limited because their parents could not afford to pay their school fees. A lot of women have lost their lives or their babies during pregnancy and childbirth. I remember the promise I made with God as a child, that I would love to establish a centre that will cater to women and children. I am grateful to God today because he made the vision come to reality.”
She said the centre is determined to reach out to 5000 children and pregnant women by the end of this year, adding that by 2028 it would have provided shelter for homeless children, testing centre for pregnant women and training centre to educate teenagers.
Concerning upcoming programmes of the centre, she said:”This year we are organising end of the year Christmas party for children on the 19 December and next year February we have an event to educate parents who have special needs children. We will also be conducting free health checks and training to empower women and teenage girls who want to further their education or start a business.”