FCT news

Eid-Mubarak Celebration: Less Privileges, Beggar’s Groans In FCT

Published

6 years ago

May 27, 2020

Joel Ajayi

It was the gale of lamentation for most of the beggars, and less privileges and the downtrodden in the Federal Capital Territory FCT as Muslim Faithful in the city joined the rest of the world to celebrate the this year’s edition of Eid-Mubarak at home as a result of religious restriction put in place by the government due to the pandemic COVID-19.

COVID-19 has continued to hit hard on both able and disable privilege and less-privilege, rich and poor, young and old in every of communities all over the country while thousands of lives have been lost across the globe.

Pervasive poverty, further escalated by the sudden appearance of the ongoing negative impact of pandemic COVID-19 that had dealt a serious blow to the economic progress of Nigeria.

Eid-El-Fitri is usually, a day celebrated with pomp and pageantry especially in view of the fact that it is the first day that Muslims unwind after going through the rigors of observing the month-long Ramadan fasting.

The Gleamer Online News on Sunday reported that this year’s celebration witnessed empty praying ground, mosques, and scanty street, as Muslim devotes observed prayer at home in the FCT.

Begging is rampant in FCT, and often involves visibly disadvantaged people, especially children, Women who line major roads to ask for offerings and daily bread.

Beggars are not finding the situation easier as it used to be, much noble international agencies and non-governmental organization, some cooperate bodies, as well as many well-meaning Nigerian always initiated several philanthropic and humanitarian projects in Nigeria during Eid-Al Filtr to support Muslim Faithful in the country especially the less-privileges, beggars, and downtrodden.

The Gleamer Online News findings revealed that many beggars that used to besiege the different prying ground especially Abuja National Mosque had disturbing tales to tell during this season.

Some of the beggars and mostly Muslim faithful who spoke with The Gleamer Online News complained of the sway of COVID-19 and how it affects their celebration.

When our Reporter drove to the Abuja National Mosque it was a gale of lamentation, as the beggar swamped our Reporter to beg for alms.

One of them that can speak little English Mohammed Idris a physically challenged man who received justN100 from our reporter expressed that “I have not received any food and money today, unlike before where food and gifts will be everywhere, people don’t come out, and we are hungry, nobody to help us. I have not seen this kind of celebration.” He groaned.

When our reporter asked him if he was aware of COVID-19? He replied “yes, but I have not seen one affected person.”

One the Muslim faithful that used to celebrate the Eid Mubarak in a big way Alhaji Ibrahim Kopada who resides in Zone 3 told our Reporter that: “It’s very unfortunate, I can’t stage big celebration as usual due to the outbreak of COVID-19

“I was even thinking in my closet, that if we that happened to be able could not celebrate Eid celebration due to “Coronavirus” how the situation will look like for the less-privileges people?

“Usually, I go out on day like this with my family, to give the less privileged food but this year, no such thing. We only staged a low key celebration at home; generally, we thank Allah for the gift of life.

“That’s the key thing, because when there is life, there is hope. We can only pray for a better Nigeria. We were been told that there is time for everything under this world, we pray for a better time.” He prayed.

It was also gathered that beggars at National Mosque mostly women and children where highly disappointed as their expectation were not met as a result of pandemic COVID-19 that is frightening their benefactors to come out to help them.

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FCT news

Beyond Displacement: How Vocational Training Is Empowering Over 100 Women and Girls in Abuja

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

For women and girls living at the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja, rebuilding their lives requires more than shelter and basic necessities. The opportunity to acquire practical skills, earn an income and provide for their families can also play a crucial role in restoring confidence and creating a pathway towards economic independence.

This aspiration informed the five-day Life Skills Bootcamp organised by GLIDE Media Foundation in partnership with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which provided more than 100 displaced women and girls with vocational training and start-up funding.

The programme, which culminated in a grand finale on Saturday, October 24, 2026, was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and financial management techniques to help them establish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.

For the participants, the initiative offered an opportunity to explore income-generating activities that could help them support their families while navigating the economic difficulties associated with displacement.

Turning Skills into Opportunities

At the heart of the programme was the recognition that practical skills can open doors to economic opportunities, particularly for people facing difficult living conditions.

The bootcamp combined classroom-style sessions with hands-on vocational training, allowing participants to learn both the principles of running a business and the practical steps involved in producing goods for sale.

During the practical sessions, participants received training in making beaded slippers, baking, producing soap and preparing petroleum jelly.

They were divided into three groups, with specialised trainers demonstrating production techniques and supervising their activities.

Beyond learning how to make the products, participants received guidance on packaging, marketing and selling their goods. These additional skills were intended to help them understand how to turn their newly acquired abilities into viable small-scale businesses.

The provision of start-up funds at the conclusion of the programme was another important component, offering participants financial support to begin applying what they had learnt.

By combining vocational instruction with initial funding, the organisers sought to bridge the gap between acquiring skills and putting them to productive use.

Building Financial Confidence

The programme also recognised that earning money is only one part of running a successful business. Knowing how to manage income, control expenditure and save for future needs is equally important.

Consequently, the theoretical sessions covered budgeting, saving, expenditure planning and the need to keep personal finances separate from business funds.

Participants were encouraged to understand how financial decisions could affect their businesses and household welfare.

Facilitators also introduced digital financial services, including OPay and Moniepoint, highlighting their potential to support transactions and the management of small businesses.

The sessions provided an opportunity for participants already engaged in business to share their experiences, including the challenges of managing earnings and attracting customers.

Discussions also explored how social media could help entrepreneurs promote their products beyond their immediate communities and reach a wider customer base.

For aspiring business owners, these lessons offered a foundation for thinking beyond production to the practical demands of operating a business in an increasingly competitive environment.

Confidence, Parenting and Personal Development

While economic empowerment remained central to the initiative, the bootcamp also addressed personal development, decision-making, leadership and wellbeing.

Participants were encouraged to build confidence, identify achievable goals and recognise their capacity to contribute to their families and communities despite the challenges associated with displacement.

Parenting and child protection also featured prominently during the sessions.

Discussions covered positive parenting practices, children’s emotional wellbeing, school attendance and the difficulties of balancing childcare responsibilities with income-generating activities.

Facilitators emphasised the importance of supportive home environments and explained how parental behaviour could influence children’s development.

The inclusion of these subjects reflected the programme’s broader focus on helping participants navigate both their economic responsibilities and family obligations.

For women and girls managing several demands, the combination of livelihood training and personal development offered a more comprehensive approach to building resilience.

A Pathway Towards Economic Independence

GLIDE Media Foundation said the initiative was designed to equip displaced women and girls with practical skills that could support their families and reduce their dependence on external assistance.

The partnership with the NRS provided support for a programme that combined entrepreneurship, financial literacy, vocational instruction and start-up funding.

The foundation expressed hope that participants would continue developing their skills and translate the training into sustainable businesses capable of improving their economic circumstances.

However, the long-term impact of the initiative will depend partly on participants’ ability to establish businesses, attract customers and manage their earnings effectively.

Continued guidance, access to markets and opportunities to strengthen their skills could further support their efforts to build sustainable livelihoods.

For the more than 100 women and girls who participated, the bootcamp represents an opportunity to move from learning to action.

Ultimately, its success will be reflected not only in the skills acquired during the five days but also in how effectively participants use their training and start-up funds to generate income, support their families and build greater economic independence.

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