No fewer than thirty (30) beneficiaries have been empowered in the 2025 edition of the Heart of Gold Empowerment Outreach, a community-based initiative aimed at promoting self-reliance, skills development and poverty reduction in Edo Central.
The empowerment programme, tagged “Empower to Bloom,” was formally declared open at Idumu Ikhala, Uromi, during a well-attended ceremony hosted by the Founder and Initiator of the initiative, Ehiagwina Joy Patrick, Erelu Yeyemeso of Ikoyi Ekiti.
Delivering her welcome address, Patrick announced that the number of beneficiaries for this year’s edition had doubled from 15 in 2024 to 30 in 2025, despite prevailing economic challenges in the country.
She attributed the expansion to the encouraging outcomes recorded from last year’s programme and the demonstrable impact on the lives of the initial beneficiaries.
According to her, the Heart of Gold Empowerment Outreach was conceived to identify individuals with vision, determination and entrepreneurial drive but who lacked the basic tools and support needed to translate their ideas into sustainable livelihoods.
“At about this time last year, fifteen carefully selected beneficiaries across gender, age and social status were empowered with critical support materials.
“The feedback from our monitoring team shows that our confidence in them was well placed, as many have begun to experience positive changes in their lives”.
she further explained that the success stories from the 2024 edition strengthened their resolve to scale up the initiative in 2025, thereby providing opportunities for more people to become economically productive and independent.
Patrick further disclosed that while the maiden edition of the empowerment programme was limited to Idijie Community, the 2025 edition has been expanded to include Idumu Ikhala Community, which also played host to this year’s event.
She expressed optimism that, with sustained support, the initiative would gradually cover Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, and ultimately the entire Esan Land/Edo Central Senatorial District.
Highlighting the areas of empowerment, the Heart of Gold Founder listed the vocations and trades covered under the 2025 programme to include:salon and hairdressing dress-making and fashion design.
