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  • NGO wins prize

    NGO wins prize

    Imagine Worldwide in Africa, a pan-African NGO, has won the inaugural Global EdTech Prize in non-profit category for its tablet-based learning programme.

    This was announced at World Schools Summit at Yasmina British Academy, UAE.

    Founded by T4 Education, with support of Owl Ventures, it recognises solutions driving change and grappling with challenges in classrooms

    The prize is awarded in three categories: Non-Profits, Start-Ups, and Majors. While Imagine Worldwide won in Non-Profit category, Brisk, from Brisk Teaching in U.S, won in Start-Ups category.

    Matific Maths Game, from Matific, in Australia, won in Majors.

    The Top 10 finalists for each category were in the summit, hosted by T4 Education, Aldar Education and Emirates Foundation and supported by CIFF, Google, Microsoft, and HP.

    At the summit, they showcased their work before an Expert Panel comprising figures in the technology and education sectors including investors and policymakers from around the world.

    The panel narrowed down the final three per category, which went on to present their products and tools before educators at the World Schools Summit.

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    Educators voted by secret ballot to determine the winner of each category, with the winners announced live on stage at the culmination of the summit.

    Founder of T4 Education and the Global EdTech Prize, Vikas Pota, congratulated Imagine Worldwide tablet-based foundational learning programme from Imagine Worldwide in Africa on winning the inaugural Global EdTech Prize.

    The Imagine Worldwide tablet-based foundational learning programme provides offline, solar-powered tablets with child-directed software to teach foundational skills, even in challenging environments without internet or grid power.

    A child who has never seen technology and is illiterate can start their literacy and numeracy journey by listening to their own teacher avatar, via headphones, guiding them in the national language of instruction, from how to use tablets to basic literacy concepts and ultimately to fluency.

    The organisation partners with governments to scale the programme nationally, with current efforts in countries like Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.

    Pota also congratulated Global Community of Practice from Team4Tech Foundation for making the Final 3. “Your work is a crucial contribution to the cause of improving education, and everything that can achieve for all of humanity,” he said.

    Team4Tech Foundation is a global impact accelerator for education-focused NGOs, providing them with technology-supported, evidence-based practices to advance education for employability.

    It currently supports 1,000+ NGOs from more than 100 countries in a free online community of practice, with courses, learning cohorts, toolkits, webinars and pro bono consulting from skilled volunteers, so that they can build employability skills with their 43M+ learners.

    Pota explained that “We established the Global EdTech Prize to help scale the innovations that are making a real difference to the most intractable educational challenges, from enhancing literacy development to building lifelong skills, supporting social mobility, and closing learning gaps.

    “And we ensured it is judged by educators themselves, because they know what works best in their classrooms. I hope this award will now allow you to spread your impact across the world.”

    Co-founder and Managing Partner of Owl Ventures, Amit A. Patel, said: “My warmest congratulations to Imagine Worldwide on winning the first-ever Global EdTech Prize and to Team4Tech Foundation on making the Final 3.

    “By harnessing technology in the service of education, your work deserves recognition worldwide. I hope that through this prestigious award, policymakers, educators, and changemakers alike see the impact of your innovation and help scale the transformation we need.”

  • NGO seeks audit of inmates

    NGO seeks audit of inmates

    A non-governmental organisation, Zarephath Aid, has called for a nationwide audit of correctional facilities to identify inmates and ascertain the status of their cases.

    Zarephath said such exercise would help decongest prisons and promote transparency in the justice system.

    The founder of the group, Mr. Ben Abraham, made the call at a press conference  with the theme “The New Legal Year and the Lingering Justice Question” held at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

    Abraham lamented that despite ongoing interventions by civil society groups and judiciary-backed measures, correctional facilities across Nigeria remain overcrowded, with many inmates spending years awaiting trial.

    He urged all tiers of the judiciary to work with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee at the federal level and state Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committees to ensure proper oversight and timely case resolution.

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    He argued that key provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and state laws mandate judicial officers to conduct monthly visits to detention facilities and law enforcement cells, followed by oversight reports to the Chief Judge and Attorney-General.

    “The oversight responsibility has been lacking in many states and at the federal level, resulting in the continued illegal detention of persons and abuse of suspects’ rights,” Abraham said.

    Speaking on the conference theme, Abraham said it was time for stakeholders in the justice sector to set clear expectations and performance benchmarks for the next legal year.

    He said that while new legal year ceremonies are often marked with speeches, many Nigerians in some parts of the country failed to relate to their significance because, to them, “justice is beyond long speeches.”

    “They eagerly await the day when they can touch justice or, put differently, when justice can touch them,” he said.

    “It is for these Nigerians that we make this call on our courts and judiciary heads,” he added.

    Abraham also condemned the rising cases of police brutality, torture, and extortion, saying the police’s internal disciplinary mechanisms have failed to curb the trend.

    “If the courts fail to leash this errancy, another uprising will be upon us sooner than later,” he warned. “The civil space is shrinking daily, and the police, sometimes acting at the behest of the executive, have targeted rights activists, critics, and journalists.”

    He criticised the Cybercrimes Act 2024, saying it is being “inordinately applied to muzzle dissent and silence critics of the government.

    “Many of the charges under the Act are politically instigated. As long as our courts tolerate this interference and fail to defend citizens’ constitutional rights to free expression, the Act will remain a tool of harassment,” he said.

    Abraham urged the judiciary to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action in defending the rule of law and democracy.

    “We respectfully invite the media to join us in setting this agenda for the judiciary and monitoring its performance over the next one year,” he added.

    The group emphasised the need for digital tools to track case progress and improve accountability, noting that an audit of correctional centres would provide accurate data on the number of inmates, including those awaiting trial and those already convicted.

    Zarephath Aid’s Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Ameh, called for collaboration among justice sector agencies and urged the Minister of Interior to extend his reform efforts to the correctional system.

    Also speaking on same issue ,the Gender Rights and Child Officer, Miss Kaylah Abraham, stressed the need to enforce the Child Rights Act and protect minors in detention.

    She called for expedited handling of children’s cases, stronger independent police oversight, and expanded access to legal aid for minors in conflict with the law.

  • NANS, NGO unveil online learning platform

    NANS, NGO unveil online learning platform

    A non-governmental organisation, Iykon Global Foundation, in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has officially unveiled a web-based  test engine system and online learning for Nigerian students, both at secondary and  undergraduate levels.

    It is aimed at enabling students to excel in their educational pursuits and reduce the incidents of abysmal failures.

    Speaking during the unveiling of learning platform in Asaba, Delta State capital yesterday, the Executive Director, Iykon Global Foundation, Ambassador Ephraim Ikechukwu Nwonu, said the essence of the initiative was to assist Nigerian students to enable them to pass their examinations with ease and reduce the incidents of failures among students in WAEC, NECO, JAMB and other examining bodies.

    He also said the platform would keep the students well informed and also to complement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitments to improving education in his Renewed Hope Agenda policy.

    Nwonu said: “The whole essence of this initiative is to assist Nigerian students to be able to pass their examinations, including job seekers to be well informed ahead.

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    “Also, the initiative will go a long way in complementing the wonderful commitments of Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the education sector. I also commend the President for the NELFUND programme for students to have access to education.

    “It is expected that this initiative will serve as an antidote to JAMB, WAEC, and NECO examinations’ abysmal failure, especially in recent times. Job seekers and graduates can also benefit from this all-important initiative.”

    Also speaking during the flag off, the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Olushola Oladoja, said the web-based test engine system speaks directly to the struggle and advocacy for students to have  access to qualitative and affordable education  enhanced by technology. He added that the  initiative was not just a project but  a tool for empowerment, a bridge to excellence, and a strategic response to the evolving educational demands of the 21st century.

    He maintained that Nigerian  students had been constrained by inadequate learning resources, poor access to practical platforms, and the gap between classroom knowledge and exams preparedness.

  • NGO urges FG to review NCDs policies, empowers 400 sickle cell patients

    NGO urges FG to review NCDs policies, empowers 400 sickle cell patients

    A Non-governmental Organisation, CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, has urged the federal government to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector and review polices on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.

    The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CrimsonBow, Miss Timi Edwin, made the call at a routine end of the month free Sickle Cell Disorder Clinic for 400 patients.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clinic, supported by Lafarge Africa, afforded patients routine and genotype tests, medical consultations, free medication, vaccination and other empowerments.

    Edwin noted that efforts should be made to prevent sickle cell disorders rather than spending huge money for its treatment.

    She said: “We feel there is a need to come from the preventative point of view rather than the treatment.

    “I would like President Bola Tinubu to please increase the budgetary allocation to health because that will cascade to people like us who need to receive healthcare on routine basis.

    “We want the government to ensure policies are implemented; let’s even reevaluate policies that affect people living with NCDs and from there, things will get better.

    “People living with sickle cell need to see doctors regularly, they need to get their medications and test done.

    “This is what we are facilitating and ensuring it is done free of charge for them to live healthier lives.”

    Describing funding as a challenge, Edwin expressed gratitude to Lafarge Africa for sponsoring the clinic.

    Urging Nigerians to stop stigmatising people living with sickle cell, the founder advocated creation of a comfortable environments where patients’ mental health would be nurtured.

    “We (patients) are already going through a lot, we will like people and government to show us kindness, love and support to better our lives,” she said.

    Earlier in her opening speech, the CEO of CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, said that the mission was to improve the lives of sickle cell warriors.

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    “For years, CrimsonBow has worked to ensure that warriors have access to the care, support, and information they need to live healthier, fuller lives.

    “We have seen the struggles — from delayed diagnoses, high treatment costs, and limited access to specialised care — and we have committed ourselves to be part of the solution.

    “This clinic is not just about medical check-ups; it is about dignity, hope, and empowerment.

    “It is a safe space where warriors are reminded that they are not alone, and where parents and caregivers can find guidance and community,” Edwin said.

    Commending Lafarge Africa for choosing to invest in the health and future of sickle cell warriors, she described the partnership as a shining example of how the private sector can play a life-changing role in public health.

    Edwin said: “Together, we are proving that corporate social responsibility is not just a phrase, but a force that can transform lives.

    “To our volunteer medical team — your dedication is the heartbeat of this clinic. To our guests and community members — your presence here today reminds us that advocacy is strongest when we stand together.

    “Let us remember, every consultation, every test, every smile shared today is a step toward a future where sickle cell disorder no longer steals potential, dreams, or lives.”

    Speaking, Mrs Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor, Head, Corporate Communications, Brand and Events, Lafarge Africa, said that the company was very proud to be in partnership with CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative to improve health condition of patients.

    Frank-Durugbor said: “Health and safety is a social imperative for us and one of our CSR pillars.

    “So, whenever we see such opportunities to contribute to the wellbeing of residents in our host communities, we take it up.

    “Our commitment to making lasting impact goes beyond health and safety, and also extends to education, infrastructure and youth empowerment.

    “This partnership with CrimsonBow is a meaningful one and supports our purpose of building impactful progress for people.

    “We are very happy to see the extent to which they (CrimsonBow) have gone to improve the lives of the people that have the disease”.

    Counselling the warriors, a medical expert, Dr Dina Nwanali, urged the parents of the sickle cell warriors to be resilient and mentally strong for their children, especially during their crisis.

    Nwanali called for more attention for sickle cell warriors, saying a lot of them could not afford medications necessary to keep them in good health.

    Speaking on the impact of the cold weather on patients, the medical expert urged parents to always give warriors warm food, cold-preventing clothes, and ensure regular hydration for their safety.

    A beneficiary, Mr Joshua Iyeke, who described as challenging, living with sickle cell anaemia, called on well meaning Nigerians and governments to come together to ease the burdens on warriors.

    “It is really expensive living with sickle cell, but with gestures like this, we get our routine drugs free.

    “To single people out there, love is not enough, know your genotype and avoid bringing any child to this world who will go through this pain,” Iyeke said.

    Also, Mr Badru Wasiu, who brought a sister to benefit from the free clinic, commended the CrimsonBow Initiative and its partners for remembering millions of people living with sickle cell.

    Advocating policy to remove all stigmas from sickle cell warriors, Wasiu urged Nigerians to support patients.

    A 39-year-old sickle cell warrior, Miss Ifeoluwa Oladeji, said: “It has not been easy but I have been managing it using my drugs; and I know my limit.

    “I want to advise policy makers to ensure new born genotype screening policy and support the carriers with medication,” he said. (NAN) 

  • NGO renovates library, toilets, others in Lagos school

    NGO renovates library, toilets, others in Lagos school

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Helping Hand Community, has commissioned some facilities renovated in Epetedo High School situated in Lagos Island, Lagos State.

    Some of the renovated facilities include:  toilets, staff room, library, Vice-Principal’s office.

    Its founder, Oladimeji Faizol Awofusi, described the intervention as a reflection of the NGO’s global vision of supporting humanity and most importantly, helping to improve educational standards at schools by providing students with a modern, safe, and comfortable learning environment

    According to Awofusi, other similar interventions have been done in schools, and will also be carried out across various schools in Lagos and across the country.

    The organization recently completed renovations at Dolphin High School, Lagos.

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    Awofusi said: “We are here to commission the recent renovation done by my NGO, as we have been doing since the beginning of the year.

    “We just finished one at Dolphin High School, where we renovated a school hall and other facilities they needed. We also worked at Stadium High School in Surulere, and last year we were at Onikan. This foundation started five years ago, and we’ve been touching lives since then.

    “I picked this because it is my community where I was born. We reached out to different schools, and this was one of the four we could locate and access.

    “We asked them what they would like us to do, and they requested the tiling of the vice principal’s office, renovation of the library, and repairs to the bathroom. We did the plumbing, painting, and renovation work.”

    On the project timeline, he added: “It took us about six weeks in total, as we were also working on Dolphin High School and Epetedo High School simultaneously.”

    On plans, he revealed: “We have a big project coming up called ‘Back to School,’ which we do every year. We visit different schools and prepare students for the next school season, which starts in September. We equip students with backpacks, food, school supplies, hygiene products, and provide medical and dental checkups. The next edition will take place on September 6 at Freedom Park, Lagos.”

  • NGO mulls job creation, entrepreneurship for widows

    NGO mulls job creation, entrepreneurship for widows

    To discontinue the cycle of poverty among widows in Nigeria, the founder of Isaac Mercy Women and Children Foundation, Mrs. Adewole Oyeyemi Mercy has advocated government’s intervention for job creations and entrepreneurship.

    Adewole stated this last week in Lagos, during a skill acquisition programme to empower 50 widows in commemoration of the year 2025 International Widow’s Day.

    She described the theme for 2025 edition of International Widow’s Day  “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems” as a round peg in a round hole, saying widows in Nigeria have been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in the society for decades.

    She urged the government to enact laws that will protect widows from harmful practices that strip them of their dignity and right to survival in some parts of Nigeria, as well as giving them stipends to support their survival.

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    “Within two years of our existence, we have trained over 100 women in different skills, empowered 20 widows and paid NECO fees for 12 widows’ children in the community where we are based ”, Adewole recalled.

    Also speaking, a skill acquisition instructor, Mrs. Ngozi Akintola commended Adewole for demonstrating commitment to improving the quality of lives of the widows.

    She urged the beneficiaries to cease the opportunity of the programme to equip themselves with skills that would make them financially independent.

    Corroborating Adewole’s stance, Mrs. Akintola appealed to the Nigerian National Assembly to make laws that will protect widows from inhuman practices.

    Some of the widows who spoke with The Nation expressed gratitude to the convener of the programme, saying the skills learned would improve their financial standing in the society.

    The skills learned during the programme include soap and insecticides making, snacks baking, auto-gele, amongst others.

  • NGO launches disability inclusion project for PWDs in FCT, Adamawa

    NGO launches disability inclusion project for PWDs in FCT, Adamawa

    A non-governmental organisation, CBM Global Disability Inclusion has launched the Rights in Action project to address intersectional discrimination and human rights violations faced by Persons With Disabilities(PWDs).

    The two year project, funded by the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be implemented by Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in the Federal Capital Territory and Adamawa State.

    Country Director of CBM Global Disability Inclusion, Mr Abdulazeez Musa said the project which is an Organisation of Persons With Disabilities(OPDs) aims to address all forms of marginalisation against PWDs.

    He said: “The project is being facilitated by CBM Global Disability Inclusion and implemented by our technical partners,Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA).

    “Essentially, what the project aims to achieve is to help PWDs to be able to achieve their goals and live their lives with dignity, to enjoy their full fundamental human rights just like anybody else.

    “On this project,we will be focusing largely on the marginalised groups because even among PWDs we have those that are also further marginalised.

    “So you can imagine the layer of marginalisation and discrimination. An example of such a group are persons with learning difficulty or challenges and sometimes even the deaf community.”

    Musa explained that the organisation would work with such groups to strengthen their organisational capacity to be able to design projects, mobilise their members and be able to speak out for themselves.

    He said the OPDs would come up with the priorities themselves and design the interventions as they see fit since they know what challenges they are faced with and the technical partners would provide the needed support.

    The country director said a key aspect of the project would be to analyse how the community sees PWDs which is at the core of the issues.

    Musa said Nigeria is not short of laws because it has passed the Disability Rights Act, however, implementation has been the issue as people continue to see PWDs that they cannot contribute to nation building.

    “So this project aims to address that and we hope to see that this law is now being fully implemented which means it’s being allocated funds during the budgeting process and PWDs are living, just like any other person in Nigeria.”

    Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Mrs Grace Jerry said the project would aid in closing the marginalised gaps among PWDs.

    Jerry said the expectation of the organisation would be to spotlight the most marginalised organisations who haven’t really been made part of major policies to drive inclusion processes in Nigeria.

    She said: “So for us, it is spotlighting those organisations and empowering them to drive policies for themselves, by themselves, and for the general good of the marginalised group.

    “For instance, you talk about the deaf-blind community. This is a community of persons with disabilities who haven’t really gained much recognition in terms of their needs and their rights.

    “This project,therefore seeks to amplify such marginalised groups and, of course, other groups giving them an opportunity to drive policy for themselves.

    President of JONAPWD, Mr Abdullahi Usman the project is expected to ensure that underrepresented groups among PWDs get their own rights like others.

    “This is because although collectively, PWDs in this country are fighting for their rights, among ourselves, there are also some PWDs who are also discriminated against within the community.

    “For instance, people who have intellectual issues, people with cerebral palsy, the deafblind and persons with albinism are often denied their rights by claiming they are not PWDs.

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    “So my expectation at the end of this project is to see that other communities of PWDs fully understand that all PWDs have equal rights with all other PWDs and generally as a nation all PWDs have equal rights with people without disabilities.

    The Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms Sweet Okundaye, commended CBM Global Disability Inclusion for the initiative and promised the Ministry’s support to the project.

    Also, the Desk Officer on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, National Human Rights Commission, Ms Oluchi Adieze, said the commission was established to promote, protect, and enforce the rights of every human living in Nigeria.

    Adieze said the commission pledged its support to the project and urged the implementing partners to leverage its state offices to address human rights challenges from the grassroots.

  • NGO sensitises people with disabilities on sexual, reproductive health in Ibadan

    NGO sensitises people with disabilities on sexual, reproductive health in Ibadan

    …distribute cash, foods, others in Ibadan

    A non-governmental organization, Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), in collaboration with the Oyo State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), has held a one-day sensitization program on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for women and girls with disabilities in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The event was part of the ongoing one-year PAMOJA Project titled “Promoting Integrated People-Centered Approach to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women with Disabilities”, funded by AMPLIFYCHANGE.

    More than 100 participants drawn from various disability clusters across the state’s local government areas attended the session.

    They included women with albinism, physical disabilities, hearing and visual impairments, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, intellectual disabilities, and little persons.

    Executive Director of VDI, Barr. Catherine Edeh, who spoke at the event, stressed the need for inclusive healthcare systems that prioritize the unique needs of women and girls with disabilities.

    While commending the Oyo State Government for its legal protections for persons with disabilities, Edeh criticized the lack of Disability Support Desks and Sign Language Interpreters in public hospitals, saying the gap continues to limit access to essential healthcare services.

    She said, “Most organizations carrying out SRHR projects often do not directly engage the people who need them most. For example, a blind woman might benefit from a radio jingle, but the deaf woman won’t. At VDI, we ensure direct engagement through sign language communication and tailored awareness across all disability clusters.”

    Edeh also noted that the project provides a platform for reviewing the National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, identifying gaps, and recommending improvements to the federal government.

    She, however, urged governor Seyi Makinde to establish Disability Support Desks and employ Sign Language Interpreters in all public health facilities across the state, enforce the 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities as stipulated in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and ensure accessibility compliance in public structures in line with the provisions of the discrimination against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

    In his remark, the Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde on Disability Matters, Timothy Olufemi Sunday commended the initiative and pledged full support towards it.

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    “I commend VDI for this impactful program. Our office is open for collaboration. What we’ve seen here today isn’t audio-based it’s visible impact. We’re also proud that, under Governor Makinde, over 35 persons with disabilities have been appointed into political offices in Oyo State a true reflection of the democracy we’re celebrating today.”

    The VDI’s Program Manager, Edward Ogeyi lamented that poverty and inequality-especially among persons with disabilities-remain battles to be fought consistently through advocacy and empowerment.

    A beneficiary, Mrs. Roseline Temitayo Oniyide, praised Barr. Edeh’s passion and experience, saying “Disability is not a sickness; it’s simply living life differently. This program encourages us to speak out and demand inclusion in community development. We want to be seen, heard, and included.”

    Another participant, Jacob Abiodun, from Abinisim Association of Nigeria (Oyo Chapter), said she gained vital knowledge on her right to sexual health, stressing the importance of speaking up in healthcare settings.

    For Akinshawe Musa Iyanda, the initiative went beyond SRHR education, saying, “They didn’t only give sanitary pads; they recognized that hunger is real and provided food items. We appreciate their holistic support.”

    Also, in attendance was Mr. Ogunjimi Olutoye, Director of Human Programmes, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State.

  • NGO seeks government’s intervention on flooding in coastal communities

    NGO seeks government’s intervention on flooding in coastal communities

    A non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Aiding Lives Initiative for the Vulnerable (ALIVE), has called for urgent government intervention to address the impact of flooding and environmental degradation on women in Lagos’ coastal communities.

    The call was made during a clean-up exercise in Ago-Egun, a riverine settlement in the Ilaje area of Bariga, Lagos. The community, predominantly occupied by Egun-speaking fishermen, is among several coastal settlements in the state affected by seasonal ocean surges, stagnant floodwaters, and poor drainage systems.

    Executive Director of ALIVE, Pandora Umechukwu, said the exercise was part of a broader advocacy and documentation project aimed at highlighting the voices of women bearing the brunt of climate change in vulnerable communities.

    She noted that the group has been working in Ago-Egun since 2017, providing maternal and child health support, hygiene education, and recreational activities. However, a major flooding incident during a 2023 breastfeeding programme exposed the extent of the challenges.

    “We came for an event and couldn’t access the venue because the whole area was flooded. Women arrived in rain boots, while some waded barefoot through the water. That moment revealed the urgency of the problem”, she said.

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    According to her, to better understand the community’s experience, the organisation conducted focus group discussions in Ago-Egun, Makoko, and Ijora.

    “Many women reported loss of income, interrupted schooling for their children, and health complications linked to polluted water and poor sanitation”, she added.

    She urged the Lagos State Government to prioritise the needs of women in coastal areas in its Climate Action Plan.

    “These women live on the frontlines of climate change. Their voices should not be ignored. We as an organisation are advocating a more inclusive approach to climate resilience that supports community-led efforts and long-term solutions”, she said.

    The clean-up focused on clearing blocked drainages and was led by volunteer women in the community. Umechukwu said the turnout was impressive, noting that no incentives were offered.

    “They came out willingly and even suggested we make the clean-up a regular activity, either monthly or every two months,” she said.

    A resident of the community, Omowunmi Bademosi, described the exercise as a step in the right direction. She, however, echoed the organisation’s concerns, noting that the drainage system is “terrible”.  She warned that stagnant water encourages mosquito breeding and increases malaria cases.

    Another resident, Motunrayo Ateji, called for government support.

    “Cleanliness is life, but we cannot do this alone. We need investment in infrastructure and sanitation,” he said.

  • NGO leads  push for boy-child empowerment

    NGO leads  push for boy-child empowerment

    As the global community marks the International Day of the Boy-Child, Debra’s Palace Initiative, a Lagos-based non-profit organization, has reaffirmed its commitment to equipping boys with life skills, emotional intelligence, and mentorship through a series of programs designed to foster holistic development.

    Speaking on the organisation’s long-term vision, the Founder and Executive Director, Mrs. Damilola Chinedu, emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in the way society engages with the boy child.

    “Our vision is to build a thriving, safe, and empowering community where every boy is seen, heard, guided, and equipped,” Chinedu said. “We are not just starting conversations, we’re building systems of support, education, mentorship, and transformation.”

    She noted that the initiative, currently active in Lagos, aims to expand across Nigeria and beyond, creating “pockets of hope and development” for boys across Africa and the world.

    The NGO’s programs range from emotional support and mentorship to hands-on skill acquisition. One of its flagship events, the Creative Summer School, will return in August 2025 for its second edition, offering boys training in cinematography, video editing, photography, graphics design, content creation, sound production, product design, coding, artificial intelligence, and emerging tech tools.

    “This program isn’t just about skill acquisition, it’s about giving boys something to live for, believe in, and build with,” Chinedu explained.

    However, she acknowledged that the initiative faces funding challenges. “Without funding, it would be nearly impossible to do this work at the scale that is truly needed. We sincerely hope that government bodies, development organizations, corporate entities, and individuals will join us in supporting these life-shaping projects.”

    Celebrating the International Day of the Boy Child, Debra’s Palace Initiative spotlighted the critical, often overlooked, emotional and developmental needs of boys.

    “For too long, society has focused, rightfully, on the girl child, but the boy child has quietly slipped through the cracks, unnoticed, unheard, and unsupported,” Chinedu said.

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    The organization collaborates with partners such as Pistis Foundation, Chess in Slums Africa, and Abbey Mortgage Bank to broaden its reach. Through events like the Boy Child Conversation Conference, it provides boys with platforms for expression and learning, while also challenging harmful stereotypes.

    This year’s conference addressed issues such as emotional suppression, peer pressure, family neglect, educational gaps, and societal expectations that discourage boys from showing vulnerability.

    “We must unlearn these stereotypes and replace them with empathetic parenting and supportive community structures,” one of the panelists emphasized.

    The initiative also pushes for the inclusion of life and vocational skills, like carpentry, mechanics, and art, alongside formal education to help boys discover purpose and contribute meaningfully to society.

    Chairman of the Advisory Board for Debra’s Palace Initiative, Mr. Shina Ayotola, stressed the importance of sustained focus on the boy child’s development.

    “There’s a lot of negative data that shows what happens when we neglect boys, higher rates of incarceration, school dropouts, and engagement in vices,” Ayotola said. “Yes, empowering girls is critical, but we must also be intentional about the boy child. No boy should be left behind.”

    He attributed the challenges boys face to a lack of proper mentorship and societal indifference. “We don’t have enough good role models, and we often assume boys will figure things out on their own. That mindset must change.”

    Ayotola called for parents, educators, and community leaders to become more deliberate in engaging boys with compassion, guidance, and structure.

    “In a world where boys often struggle silently with identity and emotional expression, our work is not just important, it is essential,” Chinedu concluded.

    With its growing network and a clear mission, Debra’s Palace Initiative is poised to lead a movement that redefines how the boy child is nurtured and empowered in Nigeria and beyond.