The Ashake Foundation is a non-profit organization in Nigeria that aims to empower underserved women and young girls from underprivileged communities in and around Abuja as part of an entrepreneurship development initiative to provide empowerment opportunities to women and young girls throughout the country.

As a grantee of the ACT Foundation and Access Bank, 100 women from 13 communities in three Local Government Areas in Nassarawa state, Karu, Keffi, and Akwanga, began intensive vocational skills and business trainings in May of this year, with a mandatory apprenticeship opportunity for all beneficiaries.


The project began in May and rounded up in September 2022. Beneficiaries who successfully completed the empowerment were awarded with certificates and start-up kits to help ease the creation of their own small businesses. Over 67% have started a business.

Mrs. Mayowa Adegbile, the organization’s founder, said, “I am pleased about this project because I am really enthusiastic about girl empowerment as an empowered woman is a powerful woman.” When we empower a woman, we ensure her children’s education, reduce the abuse caused by poverty, and ensure she becomes a pillar of support in her community.
Women’s empowerment is critical for increasing women’s self-esteem, ability to make their own decisions, and right to influence societal change for themselves and others.

To ensure the project’s long-term viability, the organization collaborated with all facilitators who live in close vicinity to the beneficiaries to provide ongoing training and mentoring to the women.
This never-ending effort was made possible by the team’s partners, Access Bank and the ACT Foundation, as well as all of the personnel, volunteers, and community support workers.