The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Foundation

  • Students float foundation to train youths

    Some students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have established a platform to train youths.

    The students, who are members of the Helpmates Foundation (THF), organised the maiden skill acquisition seminar at the Ilupeju secretariat of the Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

    The event, with the theme: Beyond the spheres, was attended by pupils, undergraduates and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

    THF founder, Rasheeda Opere, a 200-Level Biology Education student, said the seminar was aimed at preparing school leavers for future challenges.

    She said the foundation was committed to helping youths in identifying their potential and making the right decisions in their academic careers.

    Rasheeda said: “Beyond the sphere implies the dynamics and complexity of the challenges beyond the four walls of the classroom. As school leavers or graduates, we need to focus on our potentials if the white-collar jobs are not forthcoming. For pupils, we want to help them make right decisions in choosing career. This is to ensure we study disciplines that go with our passion.”

    In his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the LCDA, Hon. Rasaq Ajala, urged the participants to be optimistic about their future, advising them to be focused and passionate.

    Ajala hailed the initiative, saying that the foundation took the right decision to invest in intellectual development of the youths.

    Facilitators at the seminar included an international life coach, Mr Abdullah Davies and Chief Executive Officer of Deryne Couture, Mrs Aderinsola Adio-Adepoju.

    Davies urged participants not to be distracted by the quest for material acquisition, adding that hard work and passion would make them attain their goals early. “Seek advice from counsellors and career experts in your fields,” Davies charged.

    Adio-Adepoju advised the participants to leverage on their youthful age and avoid exuberance that could prevent them from achieving their dreams. She said youths must invest in training and skill acquisition to bring out the traits of creativity and entrepreneurship in them.

     

  • Foundation holds conference for women

    Determined to bring succor to Nigerians and women from different walks of life, the Foundation for Sapphire would be organizing a two day prayer conference for women.

    The event which is tagged International Women’s Prayer conference is the initiative of the women’s Ministry of the RCCG, Kingscourt, Lagos.

    According to Pastor Mrs. Ngozi Akabueze, who heads the foundation, she  said the conference would bring hope to the hopeless and as well as chart a positive way forward

    The focus of the prayer conference is to pray about issues around us, it is basically to cry out to God to help us. We are talking about issues affecting the family, young people growing in a depressed economy and the other issues that befall us as a nation. Sadly, there are so many unpleasant things happening around us at the moment.”

    She adds that : “We are focusing on everything that concerns us. The premise is that even the scripture recognise that there is a problem. A man born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. You haven’t done anything, for there to be trouble. That means that the world is about battles.”

    Women, Akabueze stressed are co-creators and having children should not just be about women. “Women need to pay more attention to themselves. We usually care to the details and everything gets to us, the man can go on as if nothing is happening but it is not possible with a woman.

  • Foundation canvasses holistic approach to cancer treatment

    To ensure good care of patients, the Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CEAFON) has advocated a multi-disciplinary approach to the disease treatment.

    CEAFON president Prof Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti said the rising incidence of cancer calls for a holistic approach to its management and treatment.

    Durosinmi-Etti, who was briefing reporters the forth coming 2016 Cancer Summit, said the age-long practice of patients being attended to by a particular doctor is no longer acceptable.

    Moreover, the treatment of patients requires multi-faceted expertise.

    He said: “We are mobilising the medical experts in the various aspects of cancer management to key into this approach so we can proffer solutions to the disease.”

    The don spoke of the need for a National Standard Operating Protocol for cancer treatment to make cancer management easier in the country.

    “We are looking at having the same kind of teletherapy radiotherapy machines and techniques for treatment of cancer across all the centres. That way, a patient can walk into any other centre for treatment, if for instance, one breaks down, knowing that he/she will get the same kind of treatment,” he said.

    On the summit tagged: “The Fight against Breast cancer in Nigeria”, which will hold between October 5 and 6  in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Prof. Durosinmi-Etti said  breast cancer would be on the front burner again, because of its prevalence.

    He said: “Last year it was about breast cancer and this year we are still focusing on it, because it is a major problem, especially for women. Right now, breast cancer is about 26.6 per cent, while cervical cancer is about 23.2 per cent of all cancers we manage in Nigeria. We will also touch the issue of cervical cancer, but breast cancer is really the major focus.”

    He added that the summit will also discuss treatment of advanced cancer, given that over 80 per cent of cancer cases in Nigeria today are in the advanced stage.

    “We are looking to see how we can increase awareness and educate the public on early detection because we believe that many forms of Cancer are preventable and potentially ‘curable’, if detected on time,” Durosinmi-Etti said.

  • Daily Trust, Foundation offer scholarship to IDPs’ pupils

    Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, has partnered with Yomi Otubela Foundation (YOF), a non-profit making body, to offer scholarship to some of the internally displaced pupils willing to return to school.

    At a briefing at Lagooz Schools, Iyana Ipaja in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Chief Abayomi Otubela said the scholarship is to contribute towards education in Africa as well as arouse a healthy academic rivalry among primary and secondary school pupils.

    “The motive and vision of the organisation is to resolve scholarship program in order to add sustainable happiness to the lives of African pupils and women, giving hope to the hopeless. It is also to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and women to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives,” Otubela, also the national deputy president of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), added.

    He explained that the foundation has resolved to extend the scholarship to pupils with deep knowledge of mathematics and within Primary 5 and 6, JSS1, SS1 to SS2 and between ages 9-15 years, who may be willing to take part in the foundation qualification scheduled for June.

    Otubela, who also underscored the importance of Mathematics, said: “However, it is true that the world can only advance through science and technology. My question, therefore, is: ‘Can science and technology be meaningful without mathematics? And if we don’t give the young ones those things that will motivate them to love mathematics, will the world not dwindle to the historical Dark Ages?”

  • Foundation backs quality secondary education

    New Nigeria Foundation (NNF), a non-governmental organisation that promotes sustainable community development initiatives through public private partnerships, has called on government to enhance the quality of secondary education in Nigeria.

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Prof Obafemi Ajibola, made this known at the celebration of NNF’s 15th anniversary in Lagos.

    He explained that NNF since its inception has continued to work hard to justify the vision of its founders by implementing social sector development activities that reduce poverty, generate wealth, create jobs, enhance economic growth and improve healthcare and general well-being of Nigerians through the facilitation of partnerships between public and private sector organisations.

    Ajibola said the management of NNF focused on education as a key area of concern in the celebration of its anniversary partly because of observable steady decline in the performance of students in national examinations in the last 10 years.

    “We must find a solution to this problem and we must prepare our young people in such a way that they will be able to deliver the Nigeria of our dreams,” he said.

    As part of NNF’s contribution to enhancing secondary school education, the Foundation hosted a symposium with the theme “Making secondary school education relevant for the 21st Century student.”

    The event featured a keynote address by renowned educationist, Prof Abiola Lanre Awosika and a panel of discussants that comprised leading lights in education management, notably Prof Francis Adesina; Dr Muyiwa Bamgbose; Mrs Folasade Adefisayo and Ms Igho Pearl Ugbogbor. The symposium was moderated by Dr Tunji Abimbola.

    The panel discussed the role of critical stakeholders in making secondary school education effective; integrating technology in the secondary education sector – barriers, opportunities and strategies; the place of private sector investment in advancing secondary school education towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and mainstreaming entrepreneurial training in secondary education.

    In her keynote address titled: ‘Teachers and technology as critical resources for teaching and learning in secondary school in the 21st Century,’ Awosika spoke on the need to close the gap between the way students live and the way they learn so that they can be better engaged.

    “As a nation, we have to quickly embrace the integration of technology into our learning systems to enhance quality, excellence and productivity. It may take some time for teachers and institutions to be equipped with what is needed to learn in the 21st century but once they are, the impact will be dramatic,” she said.

  • Foundation to help youths

    Speakers and discussants at the annual Younis Olatunji Basorun memorial lecture have agreed that parents, teachers and religious leaders have critical roles to play in channeling the energy of youths for national growth.

    They also underscored the need for youths to gain entrepreneurial skills early so they can be financially independent.

    The lecture with the theme: “Channeling the Energy of our Youths towards a New National Rebirth“, was organised by the Younis Olatunji Basorun Education Foundation (YOBEF).

    Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Nosiru Kekere-Ekun, Chief Guest of Honour and  National President, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, and the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Hafeez Abou, all urged parents to guide their wards towards national rebirth.

    Lead Speaker, and former Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof Lateef Hussain, said parents and leaders should first ask themselves if they are morally upright to impart moral training to their wards.

    To be morally upright, Hussain said, parents should practise what they preach as young ones are meant to be the reflections of their parents in the society.

    The State Missioner of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Imam Zakariyah Muhammed Thanni, said a nation would be great if its youths are put on the right path early.

    He advocated a mentoring programme for youths and counselled that hard work, not the quest for quick money, pays later in life.

    The Managing Director, Glenwood Property Development Company, Mrs. Noimot Olatunji, said good role models could help youths to be focused on the right path for their lives.

    She cited poor quality education, population explosion, and government’s inefficiencies as some of the challenges facing the youths.

    Five pupils got bursaries to cater for their academics throughout their secondary education at the event.

    They were: Osoko Hiqmot and Adefolu Sumayyah of Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Isolo; Abdul lateef Balikis, (Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Okota; Isiaq Mistura (Estate Senior High School, Ilupeju), and Mohammed Rasaq (Ejigbo Senior High School, Ejigbo, Lagos).

    The Chairman, Governing Board of YOBEF, Alhaji Abayomi Aiyepola, said the vision of the foundation – to promote qualitative education among Nigerians – was at the core of the event.?

    Aiyepola said the annual lecture is organised to fulfil one of the foundations goal, others being providing scholarship for indigent students at all levels, as well as promoting and funding research.

  • Foundation rewards research grant winner

    The Prof Ayo Florence Ogunye Trust Fund University of Lagos (PAFOTFUL) has given N1 million to the first recipient of its research grant award competition.

    Winner of the grant, Mr Olawale Olanipekun said at the award held in the UNILAG Senate chamber that he would use the prize to finance his research on “Modeling the fate of multi-component contaminant in porous media”.

    He said: “One of the major challenges being faced by the people of the Niger Delta is that of polluted soil from crude oil. So I am working on using a method different from the one used by previous researchers to restore the soil. People have been considering crude oil as if it is a single contaminant, but in the pollution, there are multiple hydrocarbons, like polyaromatic and alyphatic hydrocarbons in the environment. So, I am approaching it from the angle of trying to cleanse the soil of the hydrocarbons, rather than digging up the soil and replacing it with another, where the contaminants, which have already adapted to the environment, can possibly grow back.”

    Olanipekun, who has taught in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering of the institution for the past five years, believes that it is better to use a system called bio-immigration where the organisms in the same polluted environments are used to cleanse the soil.

    The Director of the office of Advancement, Mrs Ibironke Salam, explained that the trust fund decided to award scholarship when it was unable to raise its target of N500 million for a professorial chair in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Since inception in 1990, it has raised N55, 934, 115.

    She said the research grant competition was keenly contested by 10 applicants from various higher institutions in the country, from which three finalists were selected and Olanipekun emerged winner.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, who is Olanipekun’s PhD supervisor, said UNILAG believes that research efforts would take care of the institution’s and the country’s needs.

    He expressed gratitude to the donor of the foundation, Prof Ayo Ogunye for his selflessness in establishing the professorial chair through PAFOTFUL due to his love for the institution.

     

  • Foundation, Unilever help students with disability

    Foundation, Unilever help students with disability

    In Ilorin, Kwara State-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Survivors Foundation has partnered Unilever Nigeria Plc to   bring succour to students with special needs as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.

    Unilever has donated relief materials worth about N45 million to the foundation for onward delivery to students and orphanage homes.

    The materials distributed recently to sthe needy include bathing soap, detergent, body lotion and body spray.

    The beneficiaries are Kwara State School for Special needs, Ilorin; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Health Centre, Ile-Ife; Kwara State Children Reception Centre, Ilorin; internally displayed persons’ (IDPs) camp, Bauchi State, among others.

    The Survivors Foundation is pursuing its vision of reducing the pressure on the Nigeria’s economy and its health system as one of the key strategies for developing the country’s economy. This the foundation is achieving through health relief materials mobilisation and distribution to schools, orphanage homes, internally displayed persons’ (IDPs) camps, among other places.

    Founder of foundation, Biola Mohammed said that the NGO does more than just mobilising and distributing relief materials to schools and others places, it also spares nothing in educating the public on sickle cell anaemia health through awareness creation among unmarried people and ending stigmatisation among those vulnerable to the ailment.

    Founded in August 2015,  Mohammed said that “a strong health system is the first ingredient for any nation’s building which informed its establishment. The programmes of the Survivors Foundation had since its establishment planned to achieve its objectives through awareness creation and materials mobilisation. Ultimately, it seeks to improve on Nigerian economy through a strengthened health system.”

    The founder added during the distribution at the Kwara State School for Special Needs, Yakuba, Ilorin, that “part of the foundation’s vision was to have a society free of sickle cell anaemia patients which, he added, is achievable through awareness creation and partnerships with corporate organisations with like minds.”

    He also disclosed that the foundation would achieve its set goals through pampering the victims with care and supports towards helping them overcome the challenges and stigmatisation.

    Mohammed urged support for sickle cell patients, adding that the society’s attitude towards them has been very discouraging.

    He said the sickle cell anaemia patients traditionally suffer a great stigmatisation from the society which normally discourages them from receiving treatment that could aid their survival. He encouraged parents who have sickle cell children to bring them forward for treatment, counselling and help, saying that the nature of their sickness is just like any other health challenge.

    He charged the public to support them towards ending stigmatisation against them.

    “Because of the nature of the sickness, the behaviour of the society, and the stigmatisation, we don’t get to see them for their regular treatment. We have a quite number of them who are suffering from the sickness in the society but they cannot come out openly because of stigmatisation. There is nothing to be ashamed of about sickle cell anaemia. It is just like any other health challenge. Those who are suffering from sickle cell should come out for treatment and counselling. It is not a death sentence. They can still live a normal life. Sitting at home cannot help them; it would only deprive them of so many things which could affect them and even their future. They should come out, meet with people and socialize.”

    He said that the foundation’ support would get to the targeted individuals through collaborations with other foundations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), local governments and non-governmental organisations across the country.

    He added that with the materials donated by the Unilever Nigeria PLC., the realisation of its goals is beginning to be assured.

    While receiving the donation, the Principal of the Kwara State School for Special Needs, Ilorin, Mrs. Folake.O Aroyehun, thanked the foundation for selecting the school among the benefiting schools in the state.

     

  • Institution trains artisans on foundation work

    The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) has resolved to train young engineers and other artisans in foundation construction to curb building collapse.

    Its President, OreOluwa Fadayomi, said this while declaring open a three-day course on “Application of sub-soil investigation results to design of different foundation types and piled foundation integrity tests.”

    The course was organised by the institution in Lagos, last week.

    Fadayomi noted that the collapse of buildings in recent times has become very embarrassing to professionals, regretted that since some artisan and construction practitioners are not well grounded in what they do, it therefore becomes imperative that as qualified professionals, they should train the younger ones and share experiences they have garnered over the years.

    While urging participants at the training to share their knowledge with their colleagues, he said it is possible for other professionals to hide their mistakes, but for engineers, it is difficult as it will result into loss of lives and investments.

    Course Coordinator and Vice-President of the institution, Dr Kehinde Osifala, in his welcome address, said the need for continous development of technical manpower coupled with the need to reduce the spate of building collapses necessitated the course.

    The training, Osifala assured, would be a continuous exercise, and tailored to other aspects of engineering, with another one focused on addressing supervision in construction work.

    The course focused on sub soil investigation and laboratory tests; interpretation of subsoil investigation; foundation types and areas/situations of applicability and pile loading and integrity tests among others, also involved site visit.

  • Ndigbo rally at foundation launch

    Ndigbo rally at foundation launch

    Thousands were at the launch of a socio-cultural platform in Awka, the Anambra State capital reports CHRIS OJI

    The huge turnout and the enthusiasm of attendees may underline the thirst and hunger for credible regional leadership. Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of all Igbo, was fractured for years and therefore could not rally the people until its factions recently agreed to speak with one voice.

    That probably explained the high spirits at the launch of the Osisioma Foundation in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    A former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, who spoke at the event, described the foundation as not only a blessing but also the vehicle that Ndigbo need to re-establish themselves as a world super power in commerce and education. He stated that Osisioma Foundation serves as a tool for the economic and political emancipation of Ndigbo, and enjoined the entire Igbo nation to support its cause.

    Addressing over 3000 participants at the 2016 re-union of members of Osisioma Foundation, he described the concept of Osisioma Foundation as unique and similar to those in America and other developed societies.

    He said, “I want to tell you that I am amazed with the crowd here, the huge attendance has signified that God has already blessed the mission and vision of Osisioma Foundation and its founder, Dr. Chike Obidigbo. Several foundations I know were established for political reasons, but the main objectives of Osisioma, from the documents available here, is to empower people, liberate our people from poverty and improve society as well as open up Anambra economy.

    He described Dr. Obidigbo as a rare gem in administration, commerce and industry.

    Speaking further, he said, “Because Dr. Chike Obidigbo, the founder of Osisioma Foundation has been involved in the manufacturing of several products and paying thousands of workers’ salaries, he is the best candidate that can govern Anambra State. To me and any right-thinking person, Dr. Obidigbo any day, any time, is very qualified to be Anambra State governor; let our people think positively.”

    Obi, however, re-assured the Willy Obiano administration of his support, adding, “Obiano’s success is my priority now even as we plan ahead”.

    Declaring the event open, the founder of Osisioma Foundation, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, stated that one of the mission statements of the organisation was to build an ideal society where peace and harmony, health and happiness of every citizen would be guaranteed.

    Obidigbo explained that Osisioma Foundation was also “committed to the economic, social and political development of our dear Anambra State, Nigeria and Ndigbo in particular”.

    He vowed to stand firmly against exclusivity in policy formulation and implementation, because according to him, “they represent modern forms of discrimination that feeds discontent, acrimony and voilence.

    “It is our belief that until everyone and every segment of the society is given a true sense of belonging and [is] captured in the scheme of things, the entrenchment of self-interest and bitter struggles for political power would continue, especially within our immediate environment, Anambra State.”

    Obidigbo who chairs Hardis and Dromedas, has his sights on 2017, calling on all men and women of conscience and goodwill, all their valued supporters and friends that have been clamouring for genuine change, to remain prayerful and unwavering as they jointly pursue the agenda of honest and quality leadership for the people of Anambra.

    Drawing from the Bible, the Osisioma Ndigbo, said, “Perhaps the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk had us in mind, when he declared: “The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie: though, it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, It will not tarry. The just shall live by his faith”.

    In her paper, titled “Post-war trauma-a time to heal, the voice of a curious Igbo woman in the Diaspora,” a young Nigerian star in America, Miss Nkem Nwankpa, said that after leaving Nigeria as a teenager 18 years back, she began to romanticise the idea of returning to Africa, her sweet home.

    Miss Nwankpa, who noted that there was nothing as good as home, no matter the exploit of one in the diaspora, added that within the period, she would dream of her language with friends, eating her native foods, listening to local music being inspired by fashion and cultivating the land, but as an African living in the diaspora, she was guilty of not fully understanding the challenges of her people living on the continent, and she began to ask questions.

    The young girl from Iwolo Enugu State, however, observed that whenever she returned to her country, she always left with disappointment of the challenges of basic living, such as lack of running water, environmental waste, irregular power supply, bribery and corruption, the fear of armed robbers and kidnappers.

    According to Nwankpa, post-trauma stress disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood” in fact, I would like to ask that we take some time to access the effect of the trauma experienced by those who lived through it, fought in it, witnessed people get hurt and die during such a g horrific time and what we can do socially, economically and politically to make the changes we need to thrive as a society.

    Presenting his paper titled “towards the economic, social political emancipation of the Igbo nation”, a former commissioner for information in  Ebonyi State, Chief Abia Onyike, expressed with joy that despite the absence of any secondary school within the Igbo nation by 1900, Ndigbo had remained a force in Nigeria’s education industry. Chief Onyike disclosed that although Ndigbo got their first secondary school, the Methodist College, Uzuakoli, in 1923, they had produced world class citizens, prominent among them were Olauda Equiano, the great ex-slave writer, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, the acclaimed doyen of African nationalism, Chinua Achebe the father of African Literature, Sir Akanu Ibiam, one-time president of World Council of Churches and Cardinal Francis Arinze, one of the catholic cardinals in the world.

    The former commissioner went ahead to recall that Ndigbo also produced the first vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kenneth Onwuka Dike and the first vice chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Eni Njoku, as well as produced the first Nigerian economist, Prof. S.G Ikoku and first African to obtain PhD in Mathematics, Prof. Chike Obi.

    For Ndigbo to continue to flourish, Chief Onyike submitted a nine-point recommendation for the emancipation of Ndigbo.

    Papers were also presented by the chairman of Osisoma Foundation, Dr. Nnanna Egwu, Chief. Emeka Raphel Nwike, Chief Gilead Okolonkwo, Miss Felicity Okolo, a youth development expert, as well as other speakers. Former commissioner for Agriculture in Enugu state , Dr. Emma Nwankpa, Arch bishop Augustine Nwodika,, former deputy governor of Anambra state, Ichie Okwuchukwu Ezeaku, Igwe Roland Odegbo, the Ogbogu of Nteje and Rtd. Col Geoff  Onyejegbu, Chief Maxi Okwu, chief Ikechukwu Abana, Chief. Mrs Chika Ibeneme and several other dignitaries.