HBM, Kerrygold, Others Throw Weight Behind Awesome Empowerment Foundation’s Maiden Fortitude Scheme

Building materials firm, HBM Nigeria (formerly Lafarge) and dairy brand Kerrygold, owned by Unilever Nigeria, are sponsoring 70 beneficiaries under the 2026 Fortitude Empowerment Scheme founded under the umbrella of the Awesome Empowerment Foundation, brainchild of the Imperfectly Awesome Conversations Summit (IAC). The three-month vocational training programme launched in partnership with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) will equip entrepreneurs, aspiring artisans and persons with disabilities, with fashion, tailoring and culinary skills.

According to the Foundation, 60 beneficiaries are enrolled in the culinary track sponsored by Kerrygold, while the remainder are training in fashion design and tailoring under HBM’s sponsorship. HBM’s Sustainability Manager who was present at the foundation launch said the company’s support falls under its wider corporate social responsibility focus on empowerment, particularly of women. She said HBM had previously trained nearly 200 women in tiling and block-laying with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), and empowered 100 persons living with disabilities alongside LSETF and LASODA.

“Anything that has to do with empowering of women, we always want to be at the forefront,” she said, adding that HBM would monitor beneficiaries’ progress throughout the programme and provide startup support afterward.

Abiodun Ipaye, Head of Marketing for Kerrygold, urged beneficiaries to embrace consistency over perfection. “Talent doesn’t make perfect. Time and consistency is the key to achieving success” she said, pledging support from Kerrygold and Unilever Nigeria to support the participants all through, from beginning up until the end.

Other sponsors backing the scheme include Alpha&Jam, Amstel Malta, Panell Kerr Forster (PKF Nigeria) and Dotts Media House, whose combined services include branding, media visibility and professional advisory services.

Corporate marketing professional and CEO of the Foundation, Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi, said the establishment was born out of requests from sponsors and partners wanting to give back, stemming from conversations at the Foundation’s Imperfectly Awesome Conversations (IAC). She said the programme targets three categories of people: existing entrepreneurs seeking to sharpen their skills, aspiring entrepreneurs without access to training, and persons with disabilities.

“After the training, a startup kit is given to set them up and empower them,” she said, adding that the Foundation follows up with beneficiaries to ensure the skills are put into practice.

Mavis Isokpehi, founder of Victoria Intellectual Disability Foundation, who trained in shoemaking under a similar HBM-backed programme last year, said the sponsorship will help formalise her business and reduce production costs by teaching her sewing skills previously outsourced to the market.