JamaJama’s Empowerment Day, a social upskilling initiative driven by Muslim professionals, has been described as a platform that creates practical economic opportunities for children and artisans while restoring hope to families.
Speaking at the event, the program’s spokesman, Abiola Sadik, said the initiative goes beyond charity by focusing on skills, the dignity of labor, and access to work. According to him, JamaJama is designed to identify talent early, connect individuals to opportunities, and support self-reliance within communities.
The empowerment day featured games and educational activities for children, alongside the distribution of books, food items, and beverages. Children who already showed interest or were developing abilities in specific skills were also supported with basic tools to help them improve their craft and build confidence.
A defining moment at the event, Sadik noted, involved an eight-year-old boy who works as a street barber. The child was brought to the venue by his father and was immediately engaged through the JamaJama platform as an artisan, marking his first formal opportunity to practice his skill in a supportive environment.
Witnesses at the event said the boy worked confidently while his father watched with pride, encouraged by the recognition and opportunity given to his son. In addition to receiving payment for his work, the child was presented with new barbering tools, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on skill development, encouragement, and dignity.
Organizers described the incident as a reflection of JamaJama’s broader mission of creating access to work, nurturing creativity, and empowering individuals, especially young people and artisans, to build sustainable livelihoods.
Sadik added that the empowerment day represents an early phase of JamaJama’s long-term commitment to supporting artisans, developing grassroots talent, and contributing to economic resilience across Nigeria and Africa, particularly at the community and MSME level.
