In a bid to foster the spirit of economic independence among women in Nigeria, Someone Like You (SLY) Impact Foundation, in collaboration with ELPIS Community Development Initiative, Fund Fashion, and other partners, has empowered women through a three-day skills acquisition programme in commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence celebration.The Leverage Conference (TLC) 2.0, themed “Entrepreneurship Through Skills Development: Pathways to Economic Independence,” featured a certification session for beneficiaries on Thursday in Lagos, with over one hundred women empowered with diverse vocational skills after the three-day training in indigenous textile making (hand-dye Adire), home essentials, and air fresheners.According to the keynote speaker, former Executive Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) and Founder, ELPIS Community Development Initiative, Hon. Barr. Rekiyah Hassan, “ELPIS Initiative has been on the train of empowering women for a long period of time. We partnered with the SLY Initiative in 2023 and have been empowering women with vocational skills in the production of Adire,” she disclosed.Being an advocate for vocational skills, Hon. Rekiyah, from a place of leadership and productivity, examined the relevance of supporting women to upskill. Helping them become self-sufficient and self-reliant, she noted, is most pivotal to true leadership and to having the best interest of the people at heart while responding to the needs of society.She further testified that participants sent from Onigbongbo LCDA have already started producing and trading their products successfully. To follow up on their progress, all participants have been clustered into groups for assistance in registering them as a cooperative body with a trade name and will be given a solid platform to enter the market and trade.Furthermore, the Convener of the programme and Founder, Someone Like You (SLY) Impact Foundation, Amb. Adebukola Adeogun, described skill empowerment as “the new oil” in Nigeria’s evolving economy. Adebukola emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering women beyond just achieving independence.While highlighting that the significance of the theme cannot be fully realised until women gain a political voice and leadership positions, Adebukola stressed that women deserve better representation, recognition, and acceptance politically, beyond the limited positions currently obtainable for women in the country.A facilitator at the programme, CEO of Stenosa Ventures, Mrs. Adenike Osakwe, also stated that entrepreneurship is a tool for financial independence and a bedrock of self-reliance. While teaching participants to be self-sufficient, she encouraged them to embrace creativity and uniqueness, stressing that the market is not yet saturated. She added that building the right brand for each product is essential.The Founding Partner and CIO of Fund Fashion VC, Abubakar Sanusi, noted that supporting the Skill-Up Empowerment Programme was inspired by the company’s mission to invest not only in fashion businesses but also in the broader creative ecosystem. “Initiatives like this bridge sustainability with opportunity by equipping youths, women, and single parents with tangible skills. For us, empowerment is investment—because when local communities thrive creatively, they strengthen the entire fashion and creative economy,” he added.Speaking as a beneficiary of the programme from Onigbongbo Local Government and ELPIS Community Development Initiative, Caroline Ojiagbwu commended the organisers of the programme while highlighting the several skills she learnt within three days. Most importantly, she said she learnt that there is no excuse for being idle. “With one thousand five hundred naira, one can make a profit of ten thousand naira through Adire and soap making,” she revealed.