The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Foundation

  • Foundation expands scope to accommodate more contestants

    Foundation expands scope to accommodate more contestants

    The trio of Master Olatunde Semiloore, Anyaegbunem Obinna and Ogbu Deborah, have come tops in the fourth edition of the Mathematics is simple contest. The trio were presented with medals, awards textbooks and cash prizes as rewards for their feat.

    However, for the first time since it berthed in 2012, Our Generation Foundation (OGF), organiser of the Mathematics is Simple competition spread its dragnet to more contestants beyond Owode-Yewa axis with more contestants accommodated from Yewa-South Ipokia and Ado-Odo/Ota local government which is one of densely populated in Yewa Awori zone hosting over 100 and 50 private and public schools.

    Mathematics is simple contest sponsored by OGF, tasks pupils knowledge of maths without the use of a calculator.

    Owing to this development, OGF a Christian nongovernmental organisation had to use three centres in conducting the first stage of competition in May 2. This year’s competition began its preliminary stage with over 996 contestants cutting across 100 schools. The second phase which was the knockout stage that held same month saw contestants being pruned down to 672 out of which 86 emerged in the final stage that held at AUD Ota, and which produced the 10 finalists for the ground finale.

    Wife of the convener Mrs Gbonjubola Odumusi, urged participants to see the event as a challenge that would motivate them into acquiring knowledge that would make them spontaneous in their response to maths questions.

    “The peculiarity of OGF’s Mathematics is simple competition which are solving mathematics without the use of calculators and giving out solutions to the questions immediately after the exams, have thrilled lots of our participants including teachers, with subsequent improvement at every turn,” she said.

    Despite limited fund, Odumusi said OGF was left with no choice than to expand the scope owing to growing interest of pupils in the competitions.

    “Although we do not have enough resources, yet we want to be fair enough by accommodating more interested contestants due to growing interest and resounding success in past competitions,” she added.

    Some of the pupils and teachers in this competition shared their interest with The Nation.

    “This is a great challenge to me and my colleagues back in school,” said Akinola Lateef Olanrewaju of Area Community High School Owode.  “We really learned we can study mathematics without lots of stress. Solving math without a calculator has taught me to study hard for external examination without thinking of engaging in malpractices.”

    Another participant Ogundele Qawiyat of Yewa(Egbado) College Ilaro also lent her voice  “The programme is germane in eradicating poor performance in Mathematics in Nigeria.”

    A teacher in one of the participating schools Mr Bamidele Lawal, noted that the initiative would further consolidate their efforts and help pupils who are hitherto scared of the subject.

    “We mathematics teachers have been doing our best and I think with a competition like this, the students are more encouraged to study and are now believing more in themselves seeing their colleagues making it.”

    “This programme is an eye-opener and brain -challenging which I believe will energise our coming generation,” added Mr Idowu Joseph of Tayese Community Secondary School. The event wrapped up with other side attractions such as dance and drama presentation.

  • The foundation of marriage (4)

    DEAR reader, I welcome you to the last edition of the series of teachings for this month. I want you to know that it is not just reading alone that guarantees your desired result. It is taking practical steps based on what you have read so far that can guarantee your success. Today, we shall be looking at another vital topic, which will really pave way for your marriage titled, God’s Instruments for Formation.

    1.  The Word of God

    How does God form your marriage before it can become a reality? It is by His Word! Not just by prayer, but by His Word! This is because when you pray contrary to the Word of God, He doesn’t hear you.

    Some people will say, “Oh! Just pray for me, just put your hand on my head so that my marriage can be successful.” There is nothing wrong with that, but it has to be done in accordance with God’s Word! If you do not pay attention to the Word of God that has been gathered by His breath to form you, no matter the intensity of prayer offered on your behalf it will not yield the desired result. Until you allow yourself to be formed by the breath of the Almighty God which is His Word, you can never become what He destined you to be.  It is my prayer that after reading this article and you apply the Word of God, your marriage, family and life will become what God has destined it to be in the name of Jesus Christ!

    When God is forming you and I by His Word, it doesn’t have to be convenient.  I wish the clay can talk in the hands of the potter when he is forming and reforming it. But the clay keeps enduring, even when it is not convenient. Why? This is because a better tomorrow lies ahead.

    The clay must subject itself to the formation of the potter if it must become a centre of attraction tomorrow. God wants to turn your marriage and family to a centre of attraction. But before that will happen, you must be ready to subject yourself to the formation of the Almighty God, Who initiated marriage, by His Word.

    2. Dwell According to Knowledge

    The major reason for crises in marriages today is because husband and wife do not fully understand their God-given responsibilities in a marriage set-up. A person cannot do that which he does not know. If a person does not know his duties in a marriage, he cannot fulfil his obligations. The Word of God says: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered ( 1 Peter 3:7).

    The main emphasis here is the phrase, “Dwell with them according to knowledge.” The word “dwell” is translated from the Greek word, “Sunoikeo”, which is used to denote domestic association. This association is to be done according to knowledge. For any marriage to experience any degree of success, knowledge of the nature and duties of every member of the family are inevitable.

    What, then, is knowledge?

    The Oxford dictionary defines knowledge as awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a person. Dictionary.com defines it as, “The state or fact of knowing; familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study; specific information about something.”

    When the Bible, therefore, enjoins us to dwell according to knowledge, it means there are certain facts that one must lay hold on in order to enjoy success in marriage. There are lots of family crises when we have little or no knowledge of our duties in fulfilling God’s ultimate purpose for the family. That is why the Bible says: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children (Hosea 4:6).

    Husband and wife have certain God-given responsibilities to fulfill in their family, in order for success to abound therein.  My husband has often shared one of the secrets of our family success, which is the acquisition of knowledge. By reason of what he saw of the marriage institution in his early days, he began seeking to know from God, His true purpose for the institution of marriage. It was in that state that God showed him the seven concepts of marriage, which we have practiced conscientiously in our family, causing us to enjoy a great deal of success. It took knowledge for us to know our individual placement in the family network, and that knowledge has set us free from every family crises.

    To enjoy family success, therefore, the place of knowledge cannot be over emphasized. The Word of God enumerated the benefits of knowledge; it says: By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures (Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV). If you must find rooms (families), which are filled with rare and beautiful treasures of peace, love, joy, satisfaction, sunshine, fulfilment, etc, then knowledge is the key. It takes knowledge to enjoy family success.

    The prescription to dwell according to knowledge within the family network has its source in God.  The Bible says in Proverbs 2:6: For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. The Scriptures often use the words wisdom, knowledge and understanding interchangeably. But they are occasionally spoken of as separate and distinct. Knowledge is the facts, understanding is the ability to lift the meaning out of the facts, and wisdom is knowing what next to do.

    It is important for us to understand that as husband and wife, you are meant to live together as lovers, and friends. But there is no way that can happen, except you are knowledgeable about each other. Wife, when you get to know what your husband doesn’t like, you will save yourself from a lot of unnecessary prayer and fasting.  All you need is to apply wisdom and do away with the things he doesn’t like. You must learn to stick together as one, so that your marriage can become what God has destined for it to be.

    For you to be knowledgeable about your spouse, first and foremost, you need to know God, the One who is knowledgeable about everything. Do you want to be born again? Why not say this prayer in faith and you shall be born again! “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

     

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • PZ Foundation upgrades facilities

    As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, PZ Cussons Foundation has renovated and handed over fully furnished block of four classrooms and a library to Okuta Dudu High School at Odo Ere in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State

    Its Chairman and former Minister of Industry, Chief (Dr.) Kola Jomodu, who spoke on the occasion, extoled the contribution of the company to the economy. He said the company has kept faith with the country in good and trying times since it started operation over a century ago.

    “PZ will continue to grow and expand its operation and will keep imparting technical and managerial skills on Nigerians,” Jomodu said, assuring that the company will consistently live to its mission of providing goods that will make life better.

    A member, Board of Trustee of the Foundation, Engr. Tunde Oyelola, said the Foundation has executed over 48 projects across the country. He said Kogi State has had its fair share with about five projects located at Lokoja, Isanlu and now Ode Ere. He urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the facilities and maintain them for the use of future generation of students. ‘This is the only way you can encourage us to do more’ he added.

    The Executive Governor of Kogi State, represented by the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism,  David K. Olowomoran expressed great appreciation for the gesture. He thanked the Foundation for taking interest in the educational development of the state and called on other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture.

    Communities in and around Odo Ere attended the event and were full of commendation for PZ Cussons.

    PZ Cussons Foundation is managed by a 15-member Board of Trustees and funded by PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC. The Foundation has been executing PZ CSR programme in education, provision of potable water, health and road rehabilitation.

  • Foundation pays for boy’s surgery

    Foundation pays for boy’s surgery

    Despite has come for Oluwanimilo Afolabi, a three-year-old boy, who has been battling a huge tumour on his head for three years.

    Last Sunday, the Chris Okafor Humanity Foundation (COHF) donated N500, 000 to fund the required surgery for little Afolabi at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin.

    Pastor Chris Okafor, General Overseer, Liberation Ministries International Churches, and Founder of COHF, said he was moved by the boy’s plight after reading his story in a newspaper.

    “I saw the story of the boy with the lump on the head last Friday. Looking at his picture, I saw that the lump was almost as big as his head, and I felt touched. After reading, I went back to the room to break my fast that was when the Lord said to me: ‘You must help that boy,” Okafor explained.

    Presenting the cash to the boy’s father, Mr Sola Afolabi, Okafor said COHF and the church would further intervene in Afolabi’s situation to ensure that he is restored to good health.

    “My relationship with this boy (Afolabi) has just started; and it is just the beginning of good things to come,” the cleric said.

    Okafor said lending a helping hand to the needy is “practical Christianity,” adding that the gesture is in line with the teachings in Matthew 25: 1-46.

    “The only thing you can do for God is to reach out to others. The Bible says he that lends to the poor, lends to God. You don’t help someone because of what he can give to you,” he said.

    Afolabi thanked the pastor for his gesture, explaining that he has been struggling to raise the money.

    “I am extremely happy today for the milk of human sympathy shown my son by the COHF and the church. Some people advised me to inflate the amount needed, and I tell them this is not a business for me. All I want is to see my son well and able to run around like his mates. I am glad that COHF has now given my son the opportunity to live like every other normal child,” he said.

    The dilemma all started on January 12, 2012, when little Afolabi was born. His mother had noticed a tiny lump on his head, which was mistaken as a boil. But later, the lump grew in size.

    The father narrated further: “All this while, the child refused to eat. When the mother breast-fed him, he would vomit everything. Anything he takes in he vomits. At LUTH we were told he couldn’t eat because the passage where food goes through was blocked. As I speak with you he only eats through the tube attached to his navel. The doctors at LUTH said that the operation needed to give him succor would not be carried out then because of his tender age.  I still took him to LUTH when he was one and was told that he was still too young; look at how big the lump has become.”

    Afolabi said the family’s lives had never remained the same since Oluwanimilo was born. “Raising money has been difficult. Since my wife was delivered of another baby, I have been the one running around for him. It has not been easy at all. It is lack of funds that has kept me till this time from taking him back to LUTH,” he submitted.

  • Foundation hails APC leaders’ maturity

    A group, the Eko Foundation, has praised All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders for handling the National Assembly leadership crisis with maturity.

    It said they displayed sterling leadership qualities in the manner they handled the “fragile situation” to douse tension in the polity and keep the party united.

    Speaking at the extra-ordinary general meeting on the state of the nation, the chairman, Hakeem Danmola, called on Nigerians to support the Federal Government through prayers and constructive criticisms.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Aramide Noibi, the group said the opposition has been put to shame by APC’s magnanimity, and urged the party members to embrace peace.

    “In as much as we do honestly appreciate the electorate’s determination to have change, it behooves us all to genuinely justify such determination with a common front as compatriots,” the statement added.

     

  • The foundation of marriage

    DEAR reader, It is a great joy to share God’s Word with you once more on this column. It is my earnest prayer that as you take heed to the Word of God coming your way this month, your life will never remain the same again in Jesus’ name!

    When God made man, He made him in His class, having the same creative abilities as Him. Just as when God wanted heaven and earth, He created them; likewise, He has given us power to create and form whatever we desire to see in our lives, marriage inclusive. That is why this month, I shall be teaching on: The Foundation of Marriage.

    The foundation of anything determines its ultimate end. A good understanding of the foundation upon which the family system is built, will constitute the raw materials upon which your family will be built. As it is in the natural, if you consider the foundation of any building as unimportant, no matter how beautiful that building looks, in no time, it will crumble. No wonder the Bible says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm11:3)

    In the beginning, God saw the state of Adam in the garden and He decided to do something about it by providing a help meet for him. God’s Word says: And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. … And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh (Genesis 2:18-24). That became the origin of the marriage institution. From that first marriage grew the family as they began to reproduce after their own kind, as God commanded them in Genesis 1:28. That is why till date, for you to have a family, there must first be a marriage. Therefore, until your marriage is formed into the mould that you desire it to be, your family cannot be formed.

    Let us now examine some of the characteristics of marriage to help us understand God’s original purpose for the family.

    Marriage is an incident not an accident:

    Marriage is not an accident but an incident that God, the Almighty Himself, had to specially prepare for and bring into existence by being practically involved in its institution.  There is a world of difference between an accident and an incident. A servant of God while giving an illustration once said, whenever an accident happens in the natural, people gather. Among those who are gathered are sympathizers and ordinary onlookers who haven’t come to render any help, but who just came to find out what actually happened. That is why to so many people, Christians inclusive, who see marriage as an accident, they will always have to gather a crowd to settle quarrels. They will always have to gather a crowd to tell them how to behave, sympathize with them and boost their longing for self-pity. They will even gather a crowd who are not even beckoned to, but who will come on their own accord because of the terrible situation that they are experiencing. But for you and I as believers in Jesus Christ, whether married or single, it is very crucial for us to know from the Word of God that marriage is not an accident but an incident that God Almighty specially prepared for.

    Marriage is a mystery not a mistake:

    It is also very important for you to know that marriage is a mystery and not a mistake. The Word of God speaking about it says: This is a great mystery (Ephesians 5:32). Marriage is a mystery and every mystery is designed to give mastery in life’s endeavour. A mystery is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as a religious truth that is incomprehensible to reason and knowable only through divine revelation. You are meant to live a life that is beyond the imagination of the world, a mysterious life that even the devil can neither understand nor predict. God’s wish for you is to live a life of mastery.

    Marriage is a life of mystery where you are able to overcome every obstacle of the enemy and enjoy God’s best for your life. If you are married and reading this, I congratulate you because God has brought you into a life of mastery. If you are single, Ephesians 5:32 tells us that marriage is a mystery designed to make you a master, not a mistake. It is an institution designed to make life better for you, not worse. I pray that everyone reading this article today will enjoy the mystery that is in marriage in the name of Jesus Christ.

    If God had to specially prepare for marriage, then what about you and I? We can’t pretend as if it is not important to us.  If God says, it matters to Him, then you must take the right step that will help you enjoy it. This begins with accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. If you are ready, then say this simple prayer with faith in your heart: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Foundation launches ‘Light-Up Oshodi Project’

    The Bode Edun Foundation has launched a Light-Up Oshodi project over the weekend.

    The foundation with support from its sponsors and partners, installed 100 street lights in the inner streets of the seven wards of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos.

    The founder, Mr Bode Edun, said the foundation took it upon itself to help light-up every nook and cranny of Oshodi to help citizens at night.

    “The importance of street lighting cannot be overemphasised,”  he said.

    “It is on record that the provision of street lights by the Lagos State Government has helped to curb the tide of armed and small robberies in Lagos. We are simply contributing our own quota as a non-profit organisation to the development of council,” Edun added.

    The residents and elders of Simbi Street, Ijaye, Edun , Brown and other adjoining streets where the installation has been completed expressed joy over the project.

    The Chief Imam of Ijaye Mosque, Alhaji Wasiu Atanda, said “as a son of the soil, our son (Bode) recognises our need in the area and always rises up to the occasion to help solve our problems. So, I am not surprised that his foundation is coming up with this project”.

    The foundation promised to do more to alleviate the suffering of the residents.

     

  • Foundation offers Ilorin students scholarships

    A non-government Organisation, Sola Idiagbon Jimmy (SIJ) Foundation, has given scholarships to over 300 primary and secondary school pupils in Kwara State.

    Its President, Sola Idiagbon Jimi, who handed the scholarships to beneficiaries, described the gesture as his own way of giving back to the society.

    He said: “There is great potential in these children. Unfortunately, a lot are from poor homes whose parents are just struggling to put food on the table. We decided to do this from the little that God has blessed us with. This is just the beginning as we intend to make the scholarship scheme a continuing project.”

    Beneficiary schools include: Modupe Nursery and Primary School, Alafia Nur/Pry school, Opeyemi Nur/Pry school, United Community Secondary School, Rukayat Science Academy, Access Nur/Pry School, Okesena Primary School;  and Quareeb Nur/Pry School.

    Beneficiaries’ fees were paid by the foundation to their various schools through Manzuna Aliyu and Ahmed Alhassan, who are the coordinators of the foundation.

    In addition to the scholarships, the Foundation also distributed over 30,000 books and pens to students across the state. Materials, such as praying kettles, Qurans, hijabs, and tesbews, were also distributed to mosques in the Ilorin metropolis.

    It was also revealed that graduates would benefit from the generosity of the foundation, as a few selected ones would be sponsored for their masters as well.

  • Dangote foundation Kano projects hit N4bn

    Dangote Foundation projects  in Kano State have reached N4 billion, the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs Zouera Youssoufou has said.

    She said this during a working visit to Kano to inspect some on-going projects in the state.

    Mrs Youssoufou said she was in Kano with her team as part of efforts to complete some of the projects the company started, adding that some of them are being redesigned.

    According to Mrs Youssoufou, the Foundation’s Micro Grant  Programme for women empowerment in Kano, has disbursed N880 million, benefiting 88,000 women, and its Animal Traction Programme executed through a Revolving Loan to farmers, cost the Foundation N160million.

    In the areas of provision of water, the CEO explained that the Foundation has contracted the construction of borehole facilities for 220 communities across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state at the cost of N110million and the first tranche of 66 boreholes across six LGAs is being executed.

    The Foundation’s CEO, who extolled the developmental strides of the Kano State government said Dangote Foundation’s partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on routine immunisation and polio eradication has been fruitful.  To implement the programme, the Foundation has contributed over N600million for the execution of the on strengthening Routine Immunisation and Primary Health Care (0ver the last three years).

    Additionally, over N72million contract has been  awarded  for the construction of 11 units of Primary Health Care Centers across 11 Local Government Areas of the state.

    She said the Foundation had expended N55million in the construction of hostels at the Kano University of Technology Wudil. (Also an on-going project).

    According to her, the cost of the ongoing project on the construction of state-of-the-art operating Theatre and Diagnostic Centre at the Murtala Muhammad Kano is estimated atN440million.

  • Foundation launches ‘Light-Up Oshodi Project’

    The Bode Edun Foundation has launched a Light-Up Oshodi project over the weekend.

    The foundation with support from its sponsors and partners, installed 100 street lights in the inner streets of the seven wards of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos.

    The founder, Mr Bode Edun, said the foundation took it upon itself to help light-up every nook and cranny of Oshodi to help citizens at night.

    “The importance of street lighting cannot be overemphasised,”  he said.

    “It is on record that the provision of street lights by the Lagos State Government has helped to curb the tide of armed and small robberies in Lagos. We are simply contributing our own quota as a non-profit organisation to the development of council,” Edun added.

    The residents and elders of Simbi Street, Ijaye, Edun , Brown and other adjoining streets where the installation has been completed expressed joy over the project.

    The Chief Imam of Ijaye Mosque, Alhaji Wasiu Atanda, said “as a son of the soil, our son (Bode) recognises our need in the area and always rises up to the occasion to help solve our problems. So, I am not surprised that his foundation is coming up with this project”.

    The foundation promised to do more to alleviate the suffering of the residents.