The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Foundation

  • Foundation empowers 27

    The Onyekachi Ubani Foundation (OUF) has empowered 27 people including widows, poor students, physically challenged persons, with start-up businesses financial aids.

    The gesture was in line with the foundation’s  mandate of helping the poor.

    While 17 persons were provided with funds  to kick-start their business ideas, 10 pupils were given cash to purchase the coming Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

    The successful business enterprenuers, who were selected from a poll of over 100 applicants, were each given N35,000 seed money to start petty business ideas.

    Speaking during the formal presentation of cheques and cash to the 27 beneficiaries, founder of OUF, Mr Monday Ubani, said he was happy the foundation has been able to fulfil it’s obligation to the needy.

    Admonishing the beneficiaries to use the money specifically for their new business, Ubani said the foundation will continue to play it’s role in empowering people with the limited resource within its reach.

    “I congratulate you for being among the privileged few to recieve this seed money for your businesses. I pray for you that as you put it into your business, you will become financially empowered and become an asset to your family and the nation.

    “ I know that you may have other financial needs, but please endeavour to use this seed money for your businesses so that in the near future you too will be able to empower other people,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a widow, Mrs Veronica Agbasonu, thanked Ubani Foundation for providing funds for them at a time when banks and financial institutions were closing their doors to people with business ideas.

    She assured the foundation that the money given to all the beneficiaries would be put to good use.

    In 2013, the foundation saved the life of a baby (Somaya) that had a hole in her heart and thereafter attracted the sum of N10 million from the MTN Foundation for the baby.

    The foundation had also donated cash materials and drugs to Ikorodu flood victims in Lagos worth over N1,000,000 some years ago and also raised 10 per cent of N12 million for the good Nigerian Lady that returned a lost, but found N12 million to its owner.

  • Adebule hails foundation’s child advocacy centre

    *Why we’re involved

    Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, yesterday opened a Child Advocacy Centre built in Gbagada by Cece Yara Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded by Mrs Bola Tinubu, wife of Oando Group chairman, Mr. Wale Tinubu.

    Mrs. Adebule hailed the foundation for establishing “the first child advocacy outfit to address challenges.”

    Praising  Mrs Tinubu, a lawyer, for her selfless child advocacy activities, the deputy governor urged private sector and civil society groups to support the centre to achieve its goals and mission.

    The centre was established to tackle and prevent sexual abuse of children. It is also equipped to give psychological and legal support to victims.

    The centre, which his on Akin Ogunmade Davies Street, Gbagada Phase II, will operate in collaboration with the federal and state governments’ agencies to tackle the menace of sexual abuse of children.

    At a press briefing before the centre’s opening, Mrs Tinubu, a child rights advocate, said she initiated as foundation because of  the worrying cases of child abuses in the country.

    She said a Needs Assessment Survey some by the foundation indicated that two out of every five children across 20 local government areas in Lagos identified abuse as problem in their communities.

    The centre, she added, would address the alarming rate of abuse of children in the country.

    She said: “We conducted Needs Assessment Survey in 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos. We looked at the statistics we got and calculated that 784,413 children in Lagos alone, experience sexual abuse every year.  It means that 65,367 children are sexually abused monthly and 2,149 of them are abused daily.

    “In response to these disturbing figures, we conceived the idea of Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre to provide a warm, safe and child-friendly shelter where victims will be offered support and help to overcome physical and psychological experience they have been through. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities tailored to assist the psychological and physical healing process of the victims with fully operational 24-hour hotlines ready to cater for any child in distress.”

  • Foundation tackles unemployment

    The crusade to provide jobs for teeming youths has begun in earnest in the Southeast as well as in Delta, Edo and Benue states. Leading the campaign is an organisation called Intafact Hero’s Foundation.

    Last year, the foundation empowered 24 youths with N50 million in the Southeast before proceeding to other zones.

    Briefing reporters in Onitsha, the state commercial capital, the regional director of the foundation, Mr. Godwin Oche, said the organisation had not concluded with the plan of raising the fund beyond N50 million.

    The foundation is collaborating with the newly established Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School led by Prof Austine Nnonyelu and Chike Okoli Entrepreneurial Centre of the institution, headed by Prof Ngozi Anyikwa.

    Oche said the aim of the second phase of the foundation was to create the culture of entrepreneurship among the youths in the country.

    Oche said, “The whole process is geared towards giving back to our communities by empowering the young population to greater productivity and systematically collaborating with the government to fight poverty and unemployment through this scheme.

    “This initiative focuses on helping young people to imbibe the culture of entrepreneurship and to build their businesses from ideation to actualisation. This year, the foundation will collate entries from Monday, March 20 till Friday, April 28 at the designated centers across the states as well as our online medium.

    “This programme is a very timely programme as it directly impact on the youths and consequently grows the economy bearing in mind the current economic situation. The programme has in no small way started the process of reducing unemployment as it helps the youths to bring their innovative business to life.

    “At the wake of this programme the Intafact Hero’s Foundation empowered 24 successful applicants and they were rewarded to the tune of 50 million for the growth and expansion of their various businesses. The top three winners that emerged from last year’s edition are here present with us. Permit me for a second to recognise Mr. Charles Obinwugo our star winner, Ngozi Areh and Francis Alisi.”

  • Foundation supports educations development

    Youris Olatunji Bashorun Education Foundation, (YOBEF), has declared its support for the promotion of quality education for Nigerians.

    The foundation as part of its support, has consecutively held the annual quiz competition for selected schools across the six education districts in Lagos State.

    Speaking at the grand finale of this year’s competition held at Isolo area of the State, Mr. Yakub Bashorun a son of late Olatunji Bashorun with whom the Foundation was named after, said the initiative has over the years produced awardees whose academic performances remained reference points among their peers.

    Bashorun who is Lagos State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, provides scholarship awards to indigent students from the Isolo local government.

    He expressed the belief that if relevant stakeholders identify with the education sector, such support would inspire students for improved academic performance and healthy rivalry.

    Bashorun further said YOBEF has also decided to expand its scope to accommodate sponsorship of result-oriented school teachers to pursue post graduate degrees.

    He urged participants at the competition to leverage on the opportunity to strive for the best in their academic pursuit.

     

  • Foundation donates to commission for IDPs

    Foundation donates to commission for IDPs

    Nero Asibelua Foundation has partnered National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons ((NCRMIDP) to complement the government’s efforts to resettle displaced persons (IDPS).
    Its President, Mr. Nero Asibelua, said the help became necessary because of the hardship refugees and displaced persons were facing. He added that the government should be left with handling governance. He called on well-meaning Nigerians to join in the fight to save the people.
    “The Foundation is passionate about restoring dignity to displaced persons, refugees and migrants and, therefore, offers to partner the government through the NCRMIDP to achieve the goal.
    “The business of running a country should not be left for government alone. As responsible citizens, everyone should help by ensuring that their immediate families are properly and lawfully maintained, help the less privileged in our society as this will in turn correct the ills in the nation at large,” he said.
    Asibelua spoke in Lagos when the foundation hosted the Commissioner for National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIDP) Sadiya Umar Farouq, who is one of Nigeria’s female crusaders for peace, transparency and good governance.
    He said the meeting was aimed at ensuring that IDPs settle in their new environment by ensuring mechanisms are provided for lasting solutions to reintegrate the displaced persons periodically back into society.
    According to him, this would give hope to the affected, making them know that they are not alone.
    The items were for the provision of proper accommodation for IDPs at its Settlement Centre. They include 32″ Plasma TVs, refrigerators, deep freezers, washing machines, cooking pots, electric kettles, mircowave oven, among others.
    Mrs. Sadiya Umar Farouq and the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Margret Ukegbu, who received the gifts, commended Nero Asibelua Foundation for the gesture, saying that Federal Government had begun plans to resettle the over 500 IDPs from the region in their various communities. She disclosed that there were also plans to equip them with skills so that those who might not wish to go home would have viable means of livelihood.
    According to her, the commission is aware of the state of internal displacement in the region and the issues that affect them. She said policies were being put in place by the government to ensure those affected were provided with food, water, medicine and shelter alongside provision of durable solutions towards their resettlement.

  • Foundation mentors teachers

    FundaWazi Foundation, a non-governmental organ-isation spearheading the welfare of children, will on Friday, March 10 host the maiden edition of Teachers Exploring through Mentorship (T.E.M).

    The mentoring programme, which is aimed at supporting and guiding teachers, school owners and care givers in their career, enhancing teaching practice and student learning; finance and other professional goals, as well as creating a plan towards achieving them will hold at the Multipurpose Hall, The Fountain of Life Church, 12 Industrial Estate Road, Ilupeju Lagos. Time is 10.00 am.

    The co-coordinator the mentoring programme, Mrs Abisola Soneye, said it  is borne out of the passion to restore mentorship, which is a missing puzzle, in the teaching profession in schools. She noted that the programme would be an important mechanism for teachers to build a high-performing and competent career which will guarantee the longevity of schools.

    The event, she said, will also provide career development opportunities as well as in capacity building and the ability to further duplicate the mentorship attitude in their profession and way of life generally.

    Professionals from leading sectors and educational institutions will be handling the programme. They include: Mrs Nomthi Odukoya, (Founder, Funda Wazi Foundation, educationist, life coach and writer); Mrs Lai Koiki (Executive Director Greensprings School Lagos, Nigeria); Mrs Olufunto Igun (Chief Executive Officer, Corona Schools Trust Council); Mr Olakunle Soriyan (Principal Transformation Strategist, Kunle Soriyan and Co); Mr Muktar Mohammed (Financial Analyst/Stock Broker); and Barrister Taiwo Akinlanmi (Principal, Taiwo Akinlanmi Academy).

  • MTN FOUNDATION TREATS MUSIC LOVERS TO VALENTINE CONCERT

    IT was a night to remember for fun seekers last Monday, barely 24 hours to the Valentine Day celebration, as they were treated to electrifying stage performances to usher the people into the mood of celebration.

    It was more than music during the concert which took place at Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos as MTN Foundation Alumni enlivened the atmosphere with beautiful melodious sound of string and wind instruments, classical music, opera and contemporary Nigerian tune that left the audience asking for more.

    The valentine concert featured different music genres from jazz, funk, blues, upbeat folklores and string instruments.

    The participants who thought they had seen it all were again wowed with a scintillating drama dance performance by the MUSON scholars.

    “The concert is excellent. The dance and the beautiful costumes not only added panache and glamour to the event, but also gave a new definition to the Nigerian music and how effective it can be in speaking the diverse languages of Nigerians. I am glad to be here,” a member of the audience said.

    The alumni who have gone on to become masters in their chosen careers are among the over 200 brilliant, but indigent students who had their dreams of pursuing a career in music fulfilled through the Foundation’s sponsored MUSON scholar programme.

    “Muson had impacted greatly in the Nigerian music and music education in general,” noted Mrs. Marion Akpata, Director of the MUSON School of Music after watching the Alumni wowed audience for hours.”

    Akpata thanked the sponsors, MTN Foundation, and also praised the inventiveness of the music artistes for maintaining the high standard of the school, adding that the ultimate goal of the school was to bring back good music to the society.

  • 2Baba’s Foundation apologises to fans over cancelled protest

    2Baba’s Foundation apologises to fans over cancelled protest

    2Baba Foundation, the body responsible for Innocent Idibia’s proposed ‘One Voice’ march which eventually withdrew from last Monday’s nationwide protest has apologised to fans of the singer, following backlash from some quarters.
    In a statement released on Monday, the Foundation gave reasons why they backed out from the protest.
    The statement reads: “On behalf of Innocent “2Baba” Idibia, we would like to apologise to the fans, colleagues and everyday Nigerians who feel let down by the cancellation of this protest.
    “2Baba’s aim was to lend his voice to make the government aware of the growing discontent due to the wildly escalating cost of living for Nigerians in Nigeria among other issues.
    “Arguably one of the country’s most influential musicians, he saw it fit to use his considerable platform; at the core of which are Nigerians, to amplify their voice.
    This is why he chose to march for the cause, and why he was so honoured when his industry colleagues pledged their support.
    “In line with the commitment of ‘One Voice’ Nigeria to ensure a peaceful and impactful protest, The 2face Foundation and partners engaged with the security agencies to resolve all major security concerns but treacherous gaps remain that we are unwilling to ignore.
    “The risk of hijack by various political and sundry interests’ intent on using the platform to drive agendas that we as the 2Face Foundation are not aligned with and therefore exposing protesters to high levels of danger is the main reason why 2baba regretfully had to withdraw himself from the march.
    “He has refused to inadvertently present a platform for mischief makers to exploit.
    “2baba would like to express his great regret over these circumstances to everyone who feels disappointed. However, he hopes they will agree that as he said in the video announcing the development; ‘no protest is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
    The singer, according to the statement, promises to continue working on avenues to that ensure the voice of the ordinary man is heard.
    He however denied being arrested by DSS as is being reported in various online media. “Thanks for the concern guys. I’m fine and free. Reports about DSS arrest are not true. We are still compiling your responses for the leadership. State your opinion on social media with the hastag #IStandWithNigeria. Peace! One luv always!!!” he wrote.

  • Foundation trains vulnerable children

    House of Rammah Foundation, a non-government organisation in Ikotun Lagos, has expressed its commitment to education and vocation training of the less privileged in the area.

    Adisa Risikat Adeola, its founder, spoke during the graduation of eight females that took up various vocations under the foundation. Their vocations cut across sewing, fashion design, bead making tie and dye, among others

    The graduands were presented with working tools of their trade during the event held at Ororo Event Centre, Ikotun, Lagos.

    Adeola said the girls were picked up from the streets and trained.  She added that the foundation currently has 24 vulnerable children it is caring for.

    She said the foundation partners with some schools that offer scholarship to indigent pupils.

    “What we do is to identify children from poor homes in the neighbourhood and look for schools around that will adopt them and cater for their tuition and other cost,” she said.

    Miss Ebenezer Aina, 22, and Miss Zainab Adegoke, who graduated in hair dressing and tailoring had the foundation to thank for giving them a life.

    “I had just finished primary school when they picked me up from the street,” recalled Ebenezer.

    Adegoke said she met the founder while she was a wanderer in the neighbourhood.

    “She lives in our area and saw us always wandering. She asked me if I was interested in taking up a vocation rather than wandering and I quickly obliged. That was how I started tailoring and today I am graduating,” she said triumphantly.

    Olaitan Sunday, Proprietor of one of the partnering schools, Lasute Unique Kids School, Ikotun, said the school’s vision tallies with the foundation’s.

    “Our philosophy also hinges on helping the less privileged in the society. This is why we have adopted two children from the foundation – one in Basic 1 and the other in Basic III.

    “We just have to develop the spirit to give back because it is a lifetime thing. When these children grow up and become better citizens, they remember the school that once moulded them,” Olaitan said.

    Adeola said she started the Foundation to give less privileged children the opportunities she did not have.

    “When I was young, I was denied the opportunity of acquiring education, owing to financial constraint. It meant little to me then, until when I grew up to realise that if I had acquired education at the right time, I would have been better off than who I am today.”

    As the foundation prepares for her third anniversary, Adeola said its next move is to open access for more victims in the neighbourhood. However, she said finance is a constraint.

  • Foundation graduates eight in vocations

    Eight of the beneficiaries of House of Rammah Foundation vocational training have graduated.

    The event, which held at Ororo Event Centre Ikotun Lagos, witnessed the graduands receiving working tools. Their vocations cut across sewing, fashion designing, bead making, tie and dye, among others.

    The founder of the foundation, Adisa Risikat Adeola, noted that 24 vulnerable children are under the foundation’s payroll.

    Adeola said: “When I was young, I was denied the opportunity of acquiring education owing to financial constraint. Little did it occur to me then until when I grew up to realise that if I had acquired education at the right time, I would have been better off than who I am now.

    “What we do is to identify children from poor homes in the neighbourhood and look for schools around that will adopt them and cater for their tuition and other cost.”

    One of the partnering schools, Lasute Unique Kids School, Ikotun, said its vision tallies with the foundations.

    “Our philosophy also hinges on helping the less-privileged in the society. This is why we have adopted two children from the foundation- one in Basic 1 and the other in Basic III,” said the school proprietor, Olaitan Sunday.

    “We just have to develop the spirit to give back because it is a lifetime thing. When these children grow up and become better citizens, they remember the school that once molded them,” Olaitan added.

    Miss Ebenezer Aina, 22 and Miss Zainab Adegoke, who both graduated in hair dressing and tailoring, thanked the foundation.

    “I just finished primary school when they picked me up from the street,” said Ebenezer.

    Adegoke said she knew the founder when she (Adegoke) was a wanderer in the neighbourhood.

    “She lives in our area and saw us almost wondering. She asked me if I was interested in taking up a vocation rather than wandering around and I quickly obliged. That was how I started tailoring ad today I’m a graduate,” she said.