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Tag: Louis Awode Foundation

  • Foundation to equip youths with skills

    Foundation to equip youths with skills

    The Louis Awode Foundation (LAF) has announced plans to strengthen skills acquisition programmes aimed at preparing youths for emerging opportunities in the global workplace.

    Its Founder, Mr. Louis Awode, said the organisation would roll out programmes from March next year to better equip young people with competencies required for future professions. According to him, the initiative is designed to enhance employability and improve living standards by aligning education with evolving labour market needs.

    Awode disclosed that the foundation plans to train at least 500 youths in its first phase, using criteria such as skills fit, academic readiness, the future of work, and economic transformation. He explained that the approach would emphasise internships, project-based learning, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking, while also promoting stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.

    “Our goal is to equip Nigerians with the necessary skills to improve their prospects in the job market and ultimately secure a better life.Strong public-private partnerships are essential to bridge the gap between academia and the realities of today’s and tomorrow’s workplace,” Awode said.

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    In a related development, the Foundation recently distributed food items to female staff members of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) working in waste collection and sanitation across the Surulere axis of Lagos. The outreach, tagged Touching Lives 1.0, was aimed at supporting women engaged in physically demanding and often underappreciated public service roles.

    Awode noted that the beneficiaries were selected in recognition of their critical contribution to environmental hygiene and public health in Nigeria’s commercial capital. “These women rise before most of the city awakens, working tirelessly to clear dirt and debris to ensure a cleaner, safer, and more liveable city for all,” he said. “Despite the significance of their work, they often receive wages that do not fully reflect their contributions.”

    He further highlighted the challenges faced by LAWMA workers, including health risks associated with waste collection, long hours of walking, heavy lifting, and exposure to sharp or hazardous objects. Many, he said, also contend with chronic pain, fatigue, and irregular wages, which make it difficult to meet basic family needs.

    Several beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the foundation, describing the gesture as both timely and reassuring. One of them, who has worked with LAWMA for 16 years, shared her personal story of resilience after relocating from her village to Lagos in search of survival.

    “When I came from the village, there was nothing to do and nowhere to turn to. It seemed as though all hope was lost, but I held on to God,” she recalled. “One day, while searching for a job, somebody referred me to LAWMA.”

    Another beneficiary, Mrs. Titilayo, praised the foundation for recognising the efforts of sanitation workers whose contributions often go unnoticed. “I really appreciate the foundation for providing me with these items. You will always see favour, and no harm shall befall you,” she said.

    Established in 2025 by Awode, a former students’ union leader, the Louis Awode Foundation focuses on education, community development, empowerment, and global impact. Its programmes target underserved communities, underprivileged students, first-generation graduates, and persons with disabilities through scholarships, mentorship, digital literacy, and vocational training initiatives.

    Awode added that the outreach aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 11, which focus on poverty reduction and sustainable cities.

    “By celebrating and giving back to these unsung heroes, the Louis Awode Foundation seeks to honour their dedication, restore dignity to their work, and reaffirm our belief that every contribution to society deserves recognition and appreciation,” he said.

    Also speaking, a volunteer and marketing lead for the foundation, Ms. Taiwo Abdulai, said participating in the outreach reinforced the power of compassion to uplift lives. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries was incredibly moving and humbling,” she said. “It reminded me that kindness, when given sincerely, can restore hope, affirm worth, and create lasting emotional impact.”

  • Foundation begins yearly support for essential workers, heads to UN women’s conference

    Foundation begins yearly support for essential workers, heads to UN women’s conference

    The Louis Awode Foundation (LAF) has launched a yearly outreach programme to support essential workers in Lagos, beginning with female officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA).

    The foundation at the weekend distributed consumables to women working in LAWMA’s Waste Collection and Sanitation Department in Surulere, Lagos, under its mobile outreach initiative tagged “Touching Lives 1.0.”

    LAF said the initiative, which will now run annually, is designed to support workers engaged in physically demanding but often overlooked public service roles.

    Some beneficiaries described the intervention as timely, noting that it acknowledged the importance of their work, which is frequently carried out under difficult conditions. They said the support affirmed their contribution to environmental hygiene and public health in the state.

    Founder of the foundation, Louis Awode, said the focus on female LAWMA workers was deliberate, given the critical role they play in maintaining cleanliness and public safety across Lagos.

    “These women begin work very early each day and are central to keeping the city clean and safe. Despite the physical strain and health risks involved, their contribution to public health and urban living is rarely recognised,” Awode said.

    Waste collection work, he noted, involves long hours of walking and handling potentially hazardous materials, exposing workers to fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and injuries. Many sanitation workers also face economic pressures arising from low or irregular income and limited access to benefits.

    One of the beneficiaries, a road cleaner who has worked with LAWMA for 16 years, said she joined the agency after relocating to Lagos in search of stable employment.

    “I was looking for work and was referred to LAWMA. It has not been easy, but the job has helped me support myself,” she said.

    Another beneficiary, Mrs Titilayo, thanked the foundation for the gesture, describing it as meaningful support for workers whose efforts are often unnoticed.

    Established in 2025, the Louis Awode Foundation focuses on education, community development, empowerment, and social impact. Its interventions include scholarships, mentorship, digital skills training, and vocational support for underprivileged students, first-generation graduates, women, youths, and persons with disabilities.

    Awode said the outreach aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those addressing poverty reduction and sustainable cities.

    A volunteer and marketing lead for the foundation, Taiwo Abdulai, said the programme reflects the importance of compassion and shared responsibility.

    “Small acts of support can make a meaningful difference, especially when they affirm dignity and shared humanity,” she said.

    The outreach comes as the foundation prepares to participate in the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, United States.

    LAF leadership said the invitation to the global forum was received with a sense of purpose and a renewed commitment to delivering measurable impact.

    “We see this engagement as an opportunity to advance inclusive economic justice, women’s empowerment, and youth-driven solutions on a global platform,” the foundation said.

    With the theme “Future of Work, the Future of Justice: Strengthening Legal Pathways to Women’s Economic Empowerment,” LAF said its participation in the CSW70 side event aligns with its mission to amplify underserved voices, influence policy discussions, and contribute community-based perspectives to shaping equitable futures of work and justice.

    The foundation added that the Touching Lives Programme will remain a yearly engagement, with plans to empower groups of dedicated citizens across Nigeria who contribute significantly to the country’s economic and social well-being.