By Ebunoluwa Sessou & Matthew Johnson
The Patrick Ehiagwina Empowerment Foundation (PEEF), in partnership with the Heart of Gold Support and Care Initiative (HOGSCI), has launched a N250 million fundraising campaign to expand its education and empowerment programmes beyond Edo State, insisting that sustainable development can only be achieved by creating wealth rather than distributing handouts.
Speaking at the foundation’s 2026 Luncheon and Fundraiser, themed “Beyond the Handouts,” held in Lagos on Friday, June 26, 2026, the Co-founder and Convener of the foundation, Mrs. Patrick Ehiagwina, said the organisation remained committed to empowering vulnerable Nigerians through education, vocational skills acquisition and business start-up support rather than temporary relief.
According to her, the foundation’s philosophy is anchored on the belief that lasting solutions to poverty lie in equipping people with the capacity to become self-reliant.
“We don’t just give people fish; we teach them how to fish. Handouts only solve immediate needs, but empowering people with education and skills gives them a sustainable future,” she said.
