Grooming Centre renewed its partnership with SESOR Empowerment Foundation on the 1st of August 2023 by donating Twenty Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (₦20,740,000) towards the provision of relief, housing and psycho-social support to Internally Displaced women in Lagos and Benue states. The renewal of this partnership took place at Grooming Centre’s Head Office, with the Management teams of both organizations fully represented.
DR. GODWIN NWABUNKA MADE “THE GUARDIAN’S top 50 MOST INSPIRING AND DEFINITIVE CEO’s in 2023
Dr. Godwin Nwabunka made “The Guardian’s Top 50 Most Inspiring and Definitive CEO’s in 2023”. In an exclusive interview with The Guardian Newspaper, the CEO of Grooming Centre shared insights into the Centre’s journey, the impact on communities across Nigeria and the vision for the future. During the interview, the CEO highlighted the Centre’s evolution from its inception to becoming a leading player in financial inclusion and community development. He emphasized the Centre’s commitment to empowering individuals and fostering sustainable growth, citing initiatives such as microfinance services, corporate social responsibility programs, and partnerships with international organizations. The CEO also discussed the challenges faced by the Centre, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the Centre adapted by leveraging digital resources for seamless operations. He emphasized the importance of digitalizing processes to enhance efficiency and serve clients better, reflecting the Centre’s dedication to innovation and client-centric approaches. Discussions also revolved around the CEO’s extensive experience, drawn from previous roles in multilateral agencies like UNDP and UNICEF. His insights into client-centric approaches and strategic partnerships underscored the Centre’s ethos of prioritizing the welfare of its clients and staff and leveraging collaborations for impactful outcomes. Overall, the interview with The Guardian Newspaper provided a platform to showcase the Centre’s achievements, aspirations, and ongoing efforts to drive socioeconomic progress in Nigeria. Through transparent dialogue and shared insights, he reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to empowering communities and transforming lives across the nation.
Global SME FINANCE AWARDS
We are proud to announce that Grooming Centre has been recognized by the SME Finance Forum with an Honorable Mention in the Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs category of the Global SME Finance Awards 2023, from the most competitive pool of applicants ever. Organized by International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group and endorsed by the G20’s Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the Global SME Finance Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of financial institutions and FinTech companies in delivering exceptional products and services to their SME clients.
Special thanks to our clients, staff, and partners. The Honorable Mention from SME Finance Forum is a shared achievement, celebrating our commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. Grateful for your contribution to our success!
Donation to Feet of Grace Foundation
Our CEO Dr. Godwin Nwabunka received the Founder of Feet of Grace and her beneficiaries at our office recently as beneficiaries of the Feet to Grace Foundation, an organization providing prosthetic limbs to amputees, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Grooming Centre, a major sponsor, for transforming their lives.
Collaborating with SESOR
The Centre sustained its commitment to providing humanitarian support to Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria by renewing its ongoing partnership with SESOR Empowerment Foundation with a donation of ₦17.84 million. The donation was made on July 21, 2022 to support the provision of relief materials, funding and housing to the Internally Displaced Persons in Lagos and Benue States, and the completion of Sesor’s Safe Day Space Centres.
University Grant Scheme
The third phase of the Grooming Centre University Grant Scheme was concluded within Q4 2021, with a total of 68 candidates out of 155 applicants emerging as winners. These 68 winners, composed of 34 Undergraduate students and 34 Postgraduate students, received their awards at the 2021 Grooming Centre University Grant Scheme Award ceremony on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Undergraduates received One Hundred Thousand Naira each, while postgraduates received grants of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each. Due to strict COVID-19 protocols, only 29 winners were present during the award ceremony.
Grooming Talent Hunt 2021
The Grooming Talent Hunt, which was created to empower the youths and discover exceptional talents, kicked off its 3rd edition in July with auditions and held the grand finale on the 13th November, 2021. Out of over 250 registered participants, the final 10 participants performed at the grand finale where the Chrysolite dance crew from Ibadan, Nigeria emerged winners of the grand prize of One million Naira. Additionally, a violinist, CJAY and a singer, Franca won the sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira and Four Hundred Thousand Naira respectively as runners-up.
Investor Relations
Following the virtual due diligence and conclusion of funding negotiations with Global Partnerships, a Seattle-based impact-first investment fund manager dedicated to expanding opportunity for people living in poverty for a loan facility, the Global Partnerships team based in Nairobi, Kenya paid a visit to the Centre’s Head Office and branches on Thursday, December 3, 2021. The visit involved high level discussions with key members of the Management team to better understand the Centre’s operating environment and structure.
Management Retreat
The Centre held a 3-day offsite strategic retreat for Senior Management and Programme Managers from November 24th – 27th, 2021, to finalize the 2022 Business Plan. In addition, the team deliberated on strategies to develop the Centre’s blueprint for sustainable growth over the next three years, improve productivity, reinforce team building, and redefine organizational priorities. Key discussions centered on delivering the Centre’s mission within the new normal posed by the accelerating digital transformation as well as outlining future plans and key action points to be implemented. The retreat provided a platform to engage, inspire and brainstorm execution strategies in a relaxed environment.
Digital Transformation Steering Committee
With the conclusion of the digital transformation strategy advisory process with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Grooming Centre’s Digital Transformation Steering Committee was inaugurated to drive the achievement of milestones in the implementation plan and provide guidance and support to the Executive Management Team. Inaugurated in October 2021, the Committee is tasked with reviewing, monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the digital transformation plans as well as analyzing short to mid-term technology trends. The eleven-member committee, inclusive of Programme Managers and Zonal heads, is set to meet quarterly and will be chaired by the Chief Executive Officer.