The Nation Newspaper

Tag: challenged

  • Who cares for physically challenged children?

    SIR: I feel sad and ashamed when I consider the appalling attitude and disdain of most people in privileged positions for physically challenged children in our society. They are the major victims of harsh climate and weather.  Some are victims of armed conflicts; others are as a result of parental laxities and circumstances of birth, as well as diseases. In the rain, under the sun, you find many of them in the nooks and crannies of our country. They are subjected to the most horrible acts of inhuman treatment and indignity. Many in tattered clothes, others crawling even as adults because of disability, just as others are sexually abused by individuals who have lost their souls and consciences. A lot of physically challenged children have also lost their lives not necessarily to the vagaries of nature but due to irresponsibility of public officials who should statutorily address the welfare of such categories of citizens. They turned blind eyes to the predicament of the physically challenged children as they are being subjected to further mental and psychological disorientation and unnecessary rigours.

    The primary responsibility of any government is the security of its citizens. This is clearly stated in the constitution, which is the grundnorm of any organised society. The government is mandated to seek the comfort of the people by making sure equal access to the basic things of life.  But, what do we have in our society today? The physically challenged children are at the receiving end of the stick: little or no consideration and attention are given and paid to their welfare when government provides infrastructure amenities. That is why the few physically challenged children who by a stroke of fate finding their ways to have formal education, shone like stars, and of course, due to their resilience, zeal and determination to prove that there is ability in disability, as they say.

    I am waiting for a day when every child, regardless of his background, will have equal opportunity and sense of belonging in our dear country. I am waiting anxiously for when every child will not in any way or form be discriminated against because of physical challenges. I am watching and praying for that era when we will all rise and say, ‘NO’ to all forms of discrimination against such  child because of the curious circumstances of his birth and parentage. I am waiting with equanimity for when majority of the citizens will realise that, the physically challenged child is in the image of the Almighty Creator and so should  be accorded all privileges and honour all other citizens deserve and enjoy.

    Let us all prevail on the legislators to do the needful through appropriate legislation on crucial issues and matters that have to do with the welfare of these class of children and other physically challenged compatriots.

     

    • Dr. Amb. Hajiya Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua,

    Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation, Abuja.

  • Doctors in academia challenged to be business savvy

    Doctors in academia challenged to be business savvy

    Medical practitioners in the academia have been challenged to step out of their ‘comfort zones’ and start thinking on how to commercialise their God-given endowments.

    They were urged by Dr Felix Ogedegbe, a consultant orthopedic surgeon and the Medical Director, CEDACREST Hospitals,  who spurred his colleagues at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) to add more feathers to their caps by becoming medical entrepreneurs. This according to him, is lacking in Nigeria.

    “All through my time in medical practice, I have observed that Nigeria, especially, lacked medical entrepreneurs. Those in the academia often love to sit in their comfort zones and hardly think of reaching out.

    “Having put in some years into government service, all we want to say is: ‘I have paid my dues after all’. Truth is, in genuine service to one’s fatherland, no one can pay dues; you continue to give your best to the country until you are no longer able to,” he said.

    Dr Ogedegbe was one of the lead speakers at LASUCOM Academic Leadership Retreat themed: ‘Academic Staff Leadership for Today’s Nigeria.TRES( Teaching, Research, Entrepreneurship& Service), Antidote to distress’.

    As a medical director of a state-of-the-art hospital with arms in Lagos and Abuja, Ogedegbe said he has traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria, adding that anywhere he went, he discovered that one issue or the other would be crying for attention in various facets of medical practice. “That is why we need to wake up and fill the void,” he added.

    He further challenged his colleagues to wean themselves of Nigeria’s suffocating business environment, which prospective entrepreneurs often use as excuse for business failure. With determination as their weapon, Ogedegbe said they could access a macro business loan with which they can kickstart a modest clinic.

    To make their ambition successful, Ogedegbe admonished them to draw a Business Plan, using the SWOT analysis, to strategise, project, make permutations, shop for like minds to work with, be ICT-driven and set benchmark with respect to global best practice.s

    Ogedegbe has a word of advise for government on how to help curtail capital flight through medical tourism abroad. “Government, for instance, regulates the banking and aviation sectors; but in healthcare there is no standard yet. Therefore, the government must take special interest in setting up clear standard for the medical industry. Government must also provide funds so that those willing to take the risk can meet this standard by setting up the kind of medical facilities that people run to in other parts of the world.”

    Former LASUCOMS Provost, Prof Olumutiwa Odusanya, admonished his former colleagues to see themselves as leaders in their respective departments, and therefore, be able to make individual impact for the overall success of the college.

    “The mere fact that you are the head should also make you see yourself as the least. To be a leader, we must bring down our level of authority to responsibility. It’s all about making a change. Once that is lacking, you cannot be an effective leader,” he said.

    Speaking on the rationale behind the two-day event, Provost LASUCOMM Prof Babatunde Solagberu, said: “At LASUCOMM, we are training medical students to become medical doctors; that is medical education. As doctors, we are also consultants in teaching hospitals which are the laboratory for teaching. Now we are raising experts at that level to those we call residents doctors who will become consultants. Now both of them are huge businesses and particularly because government also expects us to generate money internally; and we can now run skill-enhancing programmes that will serve the private sector outside.”

  • Boost for revived centre for physically challenged

    Boost for revived centre for physically challenged

    Acomatose facility used to train physically challenged youths in Anambra State has got a new lease of life.

    Basden Memorial Special Education Centre, Isulo in Orumba South

    Local Government Area of the state, was founded in 1996 during the military era to train the deaf, blind, dumb and other physically challenged persons.

    The school located started with about 10 students; now it about 100 pupils.

    The school was abandoned by successive administrations; its buildings were dilapidated, and there were no materials.

    But since the present administration led by Governor Willie Obiano, the place has been rehabilitated with the governor’s wife Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano leading the charge.

    The once abandoned school has become a tourist haven for the rich and poor in the society with most of them celebrating even their birthdays in the place with the pupils.

    Such events, it was gathered, give the pupils joy and lift their morals, some having a reason to say there is ability in disability.

    But despite the assistance from the state government in providing a conducive atmosphere for the physically challenged in the area, the administrative secretary of the school, Mrs. Ebele Ichoke, told The Nation that they still need more.

    Some of the incentives lacking in the school, according to the woman, include a health centre, instructional materials, generating set, more brails, teaching boards, uniforms, information communication technology (ICT), equipment and storage house among others.

    She said, “We need wealthy Nigerians to use their God-given wealth to compliment the efforts of the state government in making life meaningful to them”

    Following her appeal, one of the philanthropists in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, while marking his 60th birthday, with the blind, deaf and dumb in the state, gave a helping hand.

    Ezeemo told The Nation that he was just keying into the standard set by Jesus Christ and practicalised by the late pugilist and world champion, Mohammad Ali by helping the needy.

    Speaking further, Ezeemo described the opportunity of celebrating his birthday with the needy as priceless.

    He said, “Looking at these special children’s faces, I can see that they are dazzling, evidence that they are being well taken care of.”

    He applauded the people of Isulo community for their hospitality to the school.

    Ezeemo also reminded the citizenry of the inevitable momentary nature of everybody’s existence, inferring that, as enough reason why everyone should be kind to one another.

    He appreciated the state government for offering such educational facility for the deaf, dumb and blind at no cost, while enjoining it to also set up skill acquisition centres for such persons too as another way of empowering them.

    Responding to the appeal by Mrs. Ichoke, he pledged a musical band set, donated two bush cutters for the bushes around the school.

    Furthermore, he dished out cartons of exercise books to the students, toiletries, some bags of rice, assuring that he would be visiting the school anytime he came around with another cash support.

    Speaking further with The South East Nation, the administrative secretary, Mrs. Ichoke said she was short of words in describing what Mrs. Obiano had done for them.

    Some of the things the governor’s wife had done apart from the rehabilitation of the school included, sinking of borehole for the students, provision of food items, equipping the dormitories and provision of assorted foams and beds.

    “More are coming since the centre received attention from the government, organisations such as MTN, ASA-USA that is Anambra people based in United States of America, good spirited individuals like Ezeemo among others.”

    The lady further appealed to parents and guardians with special children to bring them to Basden for adequate care, adding “there is ability in disability, some of our students had passed out to become teachers, lawyers in various establishments”

    The Nation gathered that the school which was established on March 15, 1996 offers free primary and junior secondary education to the pupils as well as trainings in Braille reading and writing to individuals who lost their sights later in life.

    The president general of Isulo development Union (IDU), Ikokwu Felix Nworji, told The Nation that the citing of the school in their community had lifted the area to a certain height.

    He said corporate bodies, rich individuals with milk of human kindness like Ezeemo always visit the community.

    For the headmistress of the school, Mrs. Grace Nworah, the deaf, blind and dumb pupils were responding well to their lessons, adding that the school choir formed by the blind and deaf was one of the best in the state.

    She said the Willie Obiano government through Mrs. Obiano, had fenced the school to guard the students from external intrusion, while the structure had been renovated also.

    “The present administration has continued to be responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the school and its needs,” she said.

  • Boost for physically challenged, indigent mothers

    Boost for physically challenged, indigent mothers

    ife of Abia State Governor Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu has called on Abians and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the physically challenged.

    Speaking at the School of the Blind in Afara, Umuahia, Mrs. Ikpeazu, who inspected the reconstruction of some parts of the school, said the physically challenged people of the society need the help to feel the government’s impact.

    Mrs Ikpeazu praised the Abia State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission [ASOPADEC] for partnering with her to give the physically-challenged a new lease of life.

    She also appreciated the principal and teachers of the school for making personal sacrifices towards the care of the special students and urged them not to relent in their efforts to ensure that the people left under their care are well taken care of.

    The Abia Governor’s wife encouraged the blind students to be steadfast in their studies and used the opportunity to shower them with gifts that included hundreds of school bags, school uniforms, Sandals, foodstuff and household provisions.

    Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji represented by the Director of Education, Mr. Mba Udensi, Commissioner for Women Affairs Lady Chinedu Brown, represented by her Permanent Secretary Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, and ASOPADEC Chairman  Chief Emeka Stanley praised Mrs Ikpeazu for her gesture.

    The Principal, Mrs. Oriala said the perimeter fencing, renovation of several buildings and construction of a walkway would make the school better.

    In a related development, Mrs Ikpeazu has paid the hospital bills of seven indigent nursing mothers detained at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia [FMC] after they gave birth. She also paid the bill of the only survivor of the fatal accident that involved Peace Mass Transit bus and a MAN diesel truck on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

    The Abia Governor’s wife said that her visit to the Nkasiobi and Bartley wards of the FMC was in the spirit of Children’s Day, “It will enable the nursing mothers to unite with their children at home”.

    She thanked God for the safe delivery of the nursing mothers, “The women wrote to me asking for my intervention and what we are doing is in line with the present administration’s desire to alleviate the suffering of the poor and provide quality health care delivery”.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Goodness Nwachukwu a mother of twins expressed gratitude to Mrs Ikpeazu for coming to their aide and prayed God to protect her and her family.

  • Synagogue: Contractors’ arraignment stalled as process is challenged

    Synagogue: Contractors’ arraignment stalled as process is challenged

    Contractors indicted by a Lagos coroner for the collapse of a six-storey guest house at Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun have challenged the  legality of the court processes served on them by the state government.

    At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, their counsel,  E. L. Akpofure (SAN) and Mrs Akinlawon (SAN), filed an application, arguing that the prosecution erred in law by pasting the processes at the entrance of the house of their clients, Oladele Ogundele and Akinbola Fatiregun, a day before the proceedings as against three days stipulated by law.

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Ikeja High Court had last December, ordered the government to serve the defendants through substituted means after several attempts to serve them failed.

    But their counsel contended that the service of the processes did not conform with provisions of the law.

    “The manner of service by way of substitution is spelt out by the law. So carrying out such service in the manner they did is a nullity, “Akpofure said.

    Mrs Akinlawon insisted that the provisions of the law for serving court processes be followed to the letter.

    Efforts by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs E.I Alakija, to get the defendants arraigned, failed. The court directed the prosecution to file its response to the defendants’ application.

    Justice Akapo adjourned the matter till January 27.

    The coroner inquest presided over by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, last August 7, held that the Synagogue Church and the engineers that constructed the collapsed building were negligent.

    The coroner ordered that Synagogue church be investigated for not having a building permit and the engineers tried for criminal negligence.

    The government brought 111-count charge against the church and the engineers following their failure to stop their trial at a Federal High Court.

  • Dolapo Osinbajo takes time out with physically challenged athletes

    Dolapo Osinbajo takes time out with physically challenged athletes

    Less than a week after a chance encounter with physically challenged athletes, wife of the All Progressives Congress vice presidential candidate, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, took time out to visit them in their ‘base’ for an unexpected gesture. Sunday Oguntola reports. 

    The love affair, so to speak, started last Sunday. It was at a novelty match to mark the 58th birthday of his husband, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at Victoria Island Lagos. The sight of the physically challenged athletes touched her. Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo couldn’t take her eyes off those she later described as amazing. She was intrigued that they could make something out of their physical disabilities.

    Though shielded by protocol and security operatives, Mrs. Osinbajo couldn’t resist walking up to them. She was particularly struck by the female athletes among them. She offered a handshake, which many of them graciously accepted. Then, she went a step further. She offered a hug, which caught many of them unawares.

    The first athlete, confusion written over her face, held back. She must be wondering whether it was bait or a genuine offer. For almost two minutes, Mrs. Osinbajo’s arms remained open. Finally, one of the female athletes mustered courage to step forward. She got a warm hug that left many of them speechless. With her eyes misty, she stepped backward for others to get their share of the hug.

    One after the other, Mrs. Osinbajo embraced them all, not minding their sweaty bodies. She was all smiles, soaking in the euphoria of the moment. The ladies clapped and clapped, stupefied that a woman of her standing could identify with them. After the game, Mrs. Osinbajo made it a matter of priority to meet them for a tete-a-tete.

    “I just wanted to know how they were faring and the challenges facing them,” she offered to our correspondent later, when asked what she was discussing with them.

    “I thought they needed encouragement and just wanted to be there for them with listening ears. I wasn’t talking; I was just listening to their tales of challenges,” she added.

    Before she left them, the humane part of her had taken over. She felt so much at peace with them that she thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see them again. But just how would that work? It came in the form of an idea. Why not just organise to meet them at their ‘base’ for more time-out? As the parley rounded off, she announced she was coming to see them at their training pitch.

    The ladies were excited, even overjoyed. But a few cautious ones among them took the route of caution. They had received such promises from prominent Nigerians in the past without fulfillment. Nothing stops her from following the same path.

    Aside not having her contacts, none of them knew where she lives. They only knew she was the wife of All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate. What they didn’t know was that Mrs. Osinbajo is a promise keeper and never makes pledges she would not keep.

    Last Wednesday, she fulfilled her promise. She stormed the basketball court of the disabled athletes at the National Stadium, Surulere in the middle of a training match by the Wheel Chair Sports Foundation much to the delight of the athletes. They couldn’t believe their luck; it was difficult to soak in the fact that a prominent woman like her could go all the way to identify with them.

    Being on a familiar terrain, having run a ministry in the church for street urchins at the newly renovated Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Mrs. Osinbajo felt truly at home with the sportsmen and women. She joked with them and listened to their stories. She exchanged banters with them and heard them out.

    And she didn’t go empty-handed. She had prepared delicious meals and drinks for their pleasure and time. The surprised athletes enjoyed the moment, taking off time to snap pictures with her and savour more hugs, this time without restraints. They had established a bond and knew she would look out for them.

    Tope Ogunyemi, coordinator of the foundation, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Osinbajo for identifying with them. He said her kind was rare and fading. “You don’t get prominent Nigerians interested in people like us. To many of them, we don’t exist. But we are truly humbled she had found a friend in us.”

    Mrs. Sherifat Shittu, one of the female physically challenged basket ball players, said people like Mrs. Osinbajo will make life better for them if she has the means and resources. “You can see how she is helping us with her personal resources. If she gets into government, she will do well for us. She will initiate policies that will make life more meaningful for us,” she rounded off.

  • Physically challenged persons urged to shun begging

    Physically challenged persons urged to shun begging

    The Social Development Secretariat (SDS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called on physically challenged people to avoid street begging, stressing its hazardous effect on their lives.

    Executive Secretary, FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, in commemoration of the 2014 Day of Physically Challenged Persons, explained that the secretariat embarked on the gesture to discourage the physically challenged from engaging on street begging.

    Onuh, while noting that it is the obligation of the social development secretariat to carter for the people with disabilities, explained that even if they engage in begging for a whole year, the proceeds from such begging business, cannot buy them a bag of rice or a good clothing material.

    “You can attest to the fact that some of your friends have lost their lives as a result of carelessness of drivers who are ran over by such drivers. So, I encourage you not to engage in street begging because it is not good for you and the FCT administration is totally against it,” she advised.

    On the need to equip them with skills, Onuh encouraged them to always make good use of the opportunities provided by the Social Development Secretariat, to acquire necessary skills and knowledge that will make their lives meaningful.

    “The form to enroll in the skill acquisition center is free of charge. Just few months ago, some people were graduated from one of our skill acquisition center located in Bwari area council, and each of them was given N100, 000 to start life,” She said.

    She, however, solicited the contribution and support of well meaning Nigerians, both government and private, who have the resources to join hands in a philanthropic outreach, to reach out to the needy with food items, clothing and other cash donations.

    On advisory note, Mrs. Grace Adogo warned them to desist from street begging, as the social development secretariat will not hesitate to arrest anyone found on the street begging.

    Adogo, urged the physically challenged persons to remain in their various homes and camps, thereby promising them that the officials of social development secretariat would be visiting them periodically with all that they need to make life better for them.

    In his response, one of the leader of the association of the physically challenged in Abuja, Suleiman Ahmed, expressed his gratitude to the secretariat for remembering them with food and clothing materials, ahead of Christmas celebration.

    While promising the cooperation of the physically challenged persons to leave the streets, he stressed the need for the resuscitation of the facilities used by the blind.

    Some items, which include bags of rice, beans, salt, corn, millet, red and groundnut oil, as well as clothing materials were distributed to the physically challenged persons in the spirit of the Christmas celebration.

     

  • HIV-challenged protesters

    •It is sad that we abandoned People Living With HIV/AIDS to their own devices

    It is bad enough that in Nigeria over 3.5 million individuals are reportedly members of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN). It is doubly terrible that in the country only 649,000 HIV-positive persons, out of 1.8 million who are in need of antiretroviral drugs, allegedly have access to the care.

    Against this disturbing backdrop, it was perhaps understandable, though equally worrying, that no fewer than 300 NEPWHAN protesters disrupted official activities at the Abuja headquarters of the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA), in an expression of bitterness over alleged neglect of the group’s members. It is a sad reflection of the depth of the group’s grievances that its spokesman, Mr. Sumaila Garba, was quoted as saying that the protesters would ensure that the NACA office was not functional for 25 days.

    It is instructive to note that NEPWHAN National Secretary, Mr. Victor Omosahon, shed light on its confrontational approach. He said: “We are concerned about the miserable conditions of the people living with the virus in Nigeria, as well as the high number of people dying daily from AIDS-related complications due to the lack of access to antiretroviral drugs and the on-going withdrawal of funding support for HIV/AIDS to Nigeria by external funding partners.”

    Further unsettling is the group’s more specific accusation that NACA has failed in the implementation of the Presidential Comprehensive Response Plan (PCRP) introduced by President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the treatment access problems, among others. This particular allegation is of scary significance, considering Jonathan’s intention announced at the launch of the initiative last year. He said: “This programme will help us bridge existing service gaps, address key financial, system and coordination challenges in current HIV/AIDS response systems.” It goes without saying that failure in this regard will have unimaginably negative consequences for the affected people, and those who are in charge must not allow a debacle.

    It should be said and stressed that, from the state of things, it would appear that the authorities are, consciously or not, creating an enabling environment for a disaster. Or how else should the insight, provided by the Director-General of NACA, Prof. John Idoko, be interpreted?   A defensive Idoko not only pointed out that the Federal Government’s programme “is starting now, after about 10 years of waiting”. He was quoted as saying: “But it is very far from where we should be. The fund for this today should be like N140bn, but only N8bn has been appropriated.”

    This represents a damning picture of the level of commitment of the powers that be when it comes to addressing public health issues, among which the HIV/AIDS burden ranks high. Nigeria has the second-largest number of people living with HIV, according to the 2012 CIA World Factbook, which is a gloomy piece of information indeed. Apart from this, approximately 170,000 people died from AIDS in 2007 alone, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

    Almost three decades after HIV/AIDS was first reported in Nigeria, as the NEPWHAN demonstration has shown, the country is still a long way from overcoming what critical observers have identified as roadblocks, namely, “lack of sincerity, poor funds administration, unclear motives and lax attitude of government officials.” The ugly incident should be probed. Furthermore, it should be seen as an opportunity for the government to seriously review what President Jonathan himself described as “the framework for sustainable financing of health to meet the targeted objectives.”

    The reality of a large HIV-challenged population, which cannot be wished away, should reasonably galvanise the government into action. This constitutes a vulnerable ring and the importance of proper governmental attention to the welfare of those who are living with the virus must be considered non-negotiable.

  • Lifting up the physically-challenged

    Lifting up the physically-challenged

    The Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited management hosted some physically-challenged on Sunday in a special ceremony held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sport Complex to kick off the 2014 Special Olympics Nigeria National Games, which ended yesterday. WALE AJETUNMOBI and MODIU OLAGURO (400-Level Mathematics Education, UNILAG) report.

    Sunday is a day many stay at home to relax and prepare for working week beginning next day. But for the Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) management, it was a day to host the physically-challenged in sporting event. Led by its /*Managing Director, Mr Adeola Adetunji, the management team of the beverage firm, in a spectacular display of soccer skills, put smiles on the faces of the physically-challenged.

    It was at the opening of the 2014 edition of the Special Olympics Nigeria National Games held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sport Complex. Coca-Cola Nigeria is a major sponsor of the yearly sporting fiesta.

    The event with the theme: Together we can, hosted ex-International and former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, former Eagles players Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Babayaro, and a Nollywood entertainer, Afeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka.

    There were also hip-hop artistes, such as Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan), Chibuzor Oji (Faze), and a popular actor and lecturer, Tunji Sotimirin.

    The annual event is held for the physically-challenged to prepare them for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, United States. The participants were drawn from various physically-challenged schools nationwide.

    Chairman of Special Olympics Nigeria, Mr Gbolade Osibodu, said the objective of the game to select sportsmen among the children to represent the country at international tournament. He said: “We have a special way of selecting our athletes at the end of the games, which would be done through balloting. I implore everyone to do his best as there is ability in disability.”

    On why the Coca-Cola Nigeria budgeted millions of naira yearly on the Olympics, its Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Mr Clem Ugorji, said the beverage company believed everyone was born with potential and unique ability even though some may be physically-challenged.

    “We believe no matter what the condition of anyone may be, there is always a value every human being has. When a platform is created for these values to be expressed, it becomes possible for these potential to be realised. This is what the Coca-Cola Nigeria has done and this is the lesson of the Special Olympics,” he said.

    Ugorji noted that the company had been a major sponsor of the game in Nigeria since 2006, stressing that football was game that is deeply embedded in the Coca-Cola brand expression.

    He added: “The game is not about competition, which is why we do not judge the impact of our investment with the number of stars that have come out of the game. But when you look at the faces of these children, you see their smiles and happiness. You see a sense of fulfillment that comes to them when they score a goal or make a big move on the field. For us in Coca Cola Nigeria, that is what gives us satisfaction.”

    The Community Affairs Manager and co-ordinator of the Project Team of the Coca-Cola adopted Unified Soccer Programme, Mr Emeka Mba, said the firm invested resources in the sport event because it believed in creating enabling platform for people to reinvent themselves.

    He said: Special Olympics are targeted at providing a platform for people who have varying degree of intellectual disability. Whilst this set of people may be retarded intellectually, the sporting platform has proved that if a good number of them are exposed to that platform, they get to express credible amount of abilities.

    “If they are not good within the realm of academic, there are good numbers of sporting events in which they can excel in. For us in Coca-Cola Nigeria, we believe in promoting an inclusive society. The physically-challenged are integral part of our society, this is why we partner with Special Olympics Nigeria to put smile on the faces of the children.”

    The event, which also featured athletic, badminton, basketball, cycling, aquatics and table tennis, started on Sunday and ended yesterday. It had 140 athletes from the Southwest, Southeast, North-Central and South-south zones competing in seven the games.

    The opening football match ended in favour of Lagos team, which beat Osun team in a penalty shootout.

    Siasia, while praising Coca-Cola Nigeria and other sponsors for the initiative, said: “It is a good thing the sponsors are making this effort to reach out to the physically-challenged, because some of them like sport and want to part of the people making it happen. They are human beings as well and I believe sport is one of the ways to make them have a sense of belonging.”

    The sponsors, Ikpeba said, are wonderful for giving back to the less-privileged. “By playing on the field with these children, one can feel their joy. I know Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of grassroots football. I have, personally, been involved in social responsibility through various organisations and I was compelled to join the people here. I am happy to be part of this event in UNILAG.”

    The event kicked off with a novelty match between the Osibodu babes and Adetunji babes. After the match, officials of the Coca-Cola Nigeria moved round the field to pick cans and other waste materials that littered the field. This, Mba said, was in line with the company’s policy of promoting safe and sustainable environment.

  • Lifting up the physically-challenged

    The Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited management hosted some physically-challenged on Sunday in a special ceremony held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sport Complex to kick off the 2014 Special Olympics Nigeria National Games, which ended yesterday. WALE AJETUNMOBI and MODIU OLAGURO (400-Level Mathematics Education, UNILAG) report.

    Sunday is a day many stay at home to relax and prepare for working week beginning next day. But for the Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) management, it was a day to host the physically-challenged in sporting event. Led by its /*Managing Director, Mr Adeola Adetunji, the management team of the beverage firm, in a spectacular display of soccer skills, put smiles on the faces of the physically-challenged.

    It was at the opening of the 2014 edition of the Special Olympics Nigeria National Games held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sport Complex. Coca-Cola Nigeria is a major sponsor of the yearly sporting fiesta.

    The event with the theme: Together we can, hosted ex-International and former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, former Eagles players Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Babayaro, and a Nollywood entertainer, Afeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka.

    There were also hip-hop artistes, such as Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan), Chibuzor Oji (Faze), and a popular actor and lecturer, Tunji Sotimirin.

    The annual event is held for the physically-challenged to prepare them for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, United States. The participants were drawn from various physically-challenged schools nationwide.

    Chairman of Special Olympics Nigeria, Mr Gbolade Osibodu, said the objective of the game to select sportsmen among the children to represent the country at international tournament. He said: “We have a special way of selecting our athletes at the end of the games, which would be done through balloting. I implore everyone to do his best as there is ability in disability.”

    On why the Coca-Cola Nigeria budgeted millions of naira yearly on the Olympics, its Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Mr Clem Ugorji, said the beverage company believed everyone was born with potential and unique ability even though some may be physically-challenged.

    “We believe no matter what the condition of anyone may be, there is always a value every human being has. When a platform is created for these values to be expressed, it becomes possible for these potential to be realised. This is what the Coca-Cola Nigeria has done and this is the lesson of the Special Olympics,” he said.

    Ugorji noted that the company had been a major sponsor of the game in Nigeria since 2006, stressing that football was game that is deeply embedded in the Coca-Cola brand expression.

    He added: “The game is not about competition, which is why we do not judge the impact of our investment with the number of stars that have come out of the game. But when you look at the faces of these children, you see their smiles and happiness. You see a sense of fulfillment that comes to them when they score a goal or make a big move on the field. For us in Coca Cola Nigeria, that is what gives us satisfaction.”

    The Community Affairs Manager and co-ordinator of the Project Team of the Coca-Cola adopted Unified Soccer Programme, Mr Emeka Mba, said the firm invested resources in the sport event because it believed in creating enabling platform for people to reinvent themselves.

    He said: Special Olympics are targeted at providing a platform for people who have varying degree of intellectual disability. Whilst this set of people may be retarded intellectually, the sporting platform has proved that if a good number of them are exposed to that platform, they get to express credible amount of abilities.

    “If they are not good within the realm of academic, there are good numbers of sporting events in which they can excel in. For us in Coca-Cola Nigeria, we believe in promoting an inclusive society. The physically-challenged are integral part of our society, this is why we partner with Special Olympics Nigeria to put smile on the faces of the children.”

    The event, which also featured athletic, badminton, basketball, cycling, aquatics and table tennis, started on Sunday and ended yesterday. It had 140 athletes from the Southwest, Southeast, North-Central and South-south zones competing in seven the games.

    The opening football match ended in favour of Lagos team, which beat Osun team in a penalty shootout.

    Siasia, while praising Coca-Cola Nigeria and other sponsors for the initiative, said: “It is a good thing the sponsors are making this effort to reach out to the physically-challenged, because some of them like sport and want to part of the people making it happen. They are human beings as well and I believe sport is one of the ways to make them have a sense of belonging.”

    The sponsors, Ikpeba said, are wonderful for giving back to the less-privileged. “By playing on the field with these children, one can feel their joy. I know Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of grassroots football. I have, personally, been involved in social responsibility through various organisations and I was compelled to join the people here. I am happy to be part of this event in UNILAG.”

    The event kicked off with a novelty match between the Osibodu babes and Adetunji babes. After the match, officials of the Coca-Cola Nigeria moved round the field to pick cans and other waste materials that littered the field. This, Mba said, was in line with the company’s policy of promoting safe and sustainable environment.