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Tag: NGO

  • NGO to empower women

    NGO to empower women

    A non-governmental organisation, The African Women Network (TAWN), is set to empower women across Africa.

    TAWN’s Convener Mrs Gift Martins said the NGO will ensure women are given a voice in Africa.

    She observed that women are not fully represented in the Nigerian politics

    She urged women to express their gifts and talents, and not be held down by any form of discrimination.

    “Our aim is to focus on women empowerment, advocacy, education and financial support to start business. We would be supporting each other to succeed through networking and interaction,” she said.

    According to her, women are marginalised, treated unjustly and unfairly in Africa. “Our aim is to amplify the voice of African women. Our demand to the men is that we want inclusion, we want our voice to be heard, and we want to be carried along. We stand against injustice and violence against women,” she added.

    She called for cultural and religious reorientation among men, noting that culture and religion has been used to oppress women.

    “The men should know that we are partners with them. We should be carried along in decision making, our consent and opinion should count. The cultural and religious imbalances that have affected women over the years must be checked,” she said.

    “At TAWN, we are dedicated and passionate about the advancement of African women, we are set to help women live a wholesome life, and make meaningful contributions to the society. We are a forward thinking association and we aim to galvanise ideas to advance the cause of women. We cater for the psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing of members.

     

     

     

  • Lagos, NGO warn against female genital mutilation

    Lagos, NGO warn against female genital mutilation

    • Practice violates rights of women

    There is no religion, faith or creed that supports female genital mutilation (FGM), hence no girl-child and woman should undergo same again. This was the submission of representatives across the three prominent religions in Nigeria at a one-day forum organised by the Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI).

    CHAI is a non- governmental organisation promoting the Health and Development of Women and Children in Nigeria. Present also were government representatives.

    Executive Director, CHAI, Mrs. Lola Alonge, said FGM violates all human rights principles, including equality, non discrimination of sex and the right to health, as FGM causes lifelong physical and psychological harm. It also affects the family, community, relationships and economic development.

    Dr Alonge said: “Trained health workers, who perform FGM are violating girls and women’s right to life and health. We, therefore, call for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP). On May 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan signed the VAPP into law. This law bans FGM and other traditional harmful practices. But the VAPP only applies at the Federal Capital Territory. It is now up to each state to domesticate the law. Previously, 11 states have enacted laws against FGM. However, there is inconsistency between passing and enforcing the law.”

    Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who was represented by Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folashade Oludara said, FGM is the most barbaric form of killing and harming of female folks.

    “That leaves them psychologically traumatised. FGM is a deeply rooted cultural belief that needs to be removed. It is not just enough to make the law, we need to call people together and create awareness on how to end FGM. In Lagos, we have 44 per cent practice because Lagos is a multi-national state with various ethnic groups. FGM heals with irreparable scare that prevents the woman from enjoying sex, having babies, among other harms. Everyone needs to come together to fight against the practice. We are told that 28 per cent are being conducted by health workers, but am sure it’s not in Lagos because any health worker caught doing so will be prosecuted,” he added.

    His Women Affairs counterpart, Dr. Lola Akande, said FGM was an abuse against the girl-child and women hence the urgent need to get it abolished. The commissioner, represented by Dr. (Mrs) Sola Falana, said Lagos was ready to collaborate with CHAI in the eradication of the practice.

    “We believe this is an abuse, and we have a number you can dial to report cases of abuse in Lagos. The state government has always been in the forefront against such practices and we are ready to collaborate with CHAI in the eradication. But this is a collective effort; we need to carry out sensitisation especially to our men. Today, many women are not enjoying their marriage because of this FGM, it has led to so much deaths,” she added.

    President, Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Dr. Sariyu Ashiru, said the practice has no medical benefit, but it is still lingering because of culture. “These procedures are being performed by quacks, which is why the victim ends up with complications,” she said.

    In the same vein, Baale of Marine Beach, Chief Joseph Omobolanle Ogunmola said his community has started campaigning against the practice through the pastors, Imams and the Baales.

    He said: “The practice is endangering the life of our young girls. We want them to live. It should be our collective responsibility to sensitise our families to stop FGM so that our females can live long and in good health.”

    Also at the event, Pastor Laide Adenuga of Redeemed Aids Program Action Committee (RAPAC) said there is no verse in the Holy Bible that endorses FGM so the act itself does not glorify God.

  • NGO seeks ‘proper care’ for the physically-challenged

    NGO seeks ‘proper care’ for the physically-challenged

    A non-governmental home that cares for the physically and mentally-challenged, Lady Atinuke Memorial Home, has called for proper parental care for the children. The foundation also clamoured for empathy for its pupils, during its 10th year anniversary celebrations, which took place in the school premises at Badagry, Lagos.

    Lady Atinuke Memorial Home,  established specifically for disabled children, maked its 10th year in Lagos, Nigeria. The theme of the anniversary, Empathy I Need, explored the need to identify intellectually, the emotional state of the disabled children and further transform their lives to suit the taste of the society, rather than showing them unnecessary sympathy which might lead to rejection or dejection of the children in the society.

    Present at the event were: the Special Adviser on Social Development to Lagos State Governor AkinwunmiAmbode, Mrs Joyce Onafowokan; founder and national President of the Down Syndrome Foundation, Mrs Rose Mordi; founder, Olaokin Medical Centre, Dr Olaokin and the host other concerned parents.

    More than 30 pupils in the home suffer from autism, cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome, in the last 10 years the home has given care and training to prepare them for the future. But many are often stigmatised. “Show us love, all we need is empathy, all we need is empathy, not sympathy”, they clamoured, singing theatrically. Special education should be given to specific students who are physically or mentally ill, that is why homes like Lady Atinuke Memorial Home and others exist to bring out abilities in the disabilities of the disabled children…”, Assistant Director, Muslim Primary school, inclusive unit, Alozie Placidus said.

    Mrs Onafowokan emphatically pointed out that the press should through the tell the parents of the disabled not to hide their children. Onafowokan noted the need to call attention to disabilities and make the children happy for no one knows what the future has for them. She said that disability is curable and that Lagos State is doing better among other states in Nigeria to ensure that true empathy is shown to the physically challenge.

    He noted some of the causalities for most disabled children such as genetics factor, pregnant woman drinking alcohol and long labour, among others. Concerned parent and matron, who is also a medical practitioner, Mrs Onafolujo, x-rayed the common mental ill-health in children and the need for parents to give early diagnosis. She emphasised specifically that most of the children are artistic, talented, productive, urging the parents to get the best out of them by giving them sincere empathy.

    Dr Olaokin stressed that “If you don’t visualise empathy, you’ll not understand what we’re talking about. Parents of these children go through several difficulties and among all will be the reactions of people outside when they see the disabled children. Some will think that a disabled child is as a result of spiritual attack or certain sins the parents have committed. All these are not true”

    While speaking with the founder of the disabled home, Mrs Else Akerele, she said:” I want parents to know that there are lots of potentials in these children. You can see that every one of them is a star. There are potentials in them that if allowed to come out, one will wonder. These children are very honest, they can’t lie and they don’t just know how to pretend, it is not just in their nature. They tell you the truth as it is”.

  • NGO begins free training

    NGO begins free training

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Hauk Foundation has organised one-week training for 100 women on eradication of violence.

    The event, held at Lagos State Digital Village, Alausa, Ikeja, was part of activities to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence.

    The women were trained in different areas ranging from baking, sewing, make up, small chops and pastries, child minding, personal development and leadership skills.

    Hauk Foundation President Mrs Hauwa Rebecca urged women to empower themselves to support their husbands.

    She advised the single women to strive for new knowledge until they reach a point where they are certain of what they want to make out of life.

    Juissy Chris, a musical artist challenged the women to go extra mile to see that their children get all the extras life has to offer.

     

  • Law firm partners NGO to lift women traders

    Law firm partners NGO to lift women traders

    The law firm of Charles Anthony LLP has partnered a non-governmental organisation to break the barriers that hold women back in the export business, report JOSEPH JIBUEZE and ROBERT EGBE.

    In March 2001, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Phillips was appointed Senior Trial Attorney and Lead Counsel at the United Nations International Tribunal for Rwanda.

    For over a decade, he led teams of international lawyers in the prosecution of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which an estimated 800 civilians were killed, most of them men.

    His interaction with widows, most of who lost their husbands in the genocide, shaped his view about women.

    He realised that given the right opportunities and if empowered, less-privileged women could be agents of social change, economic growth and development.

    When the opportunity came to empower women, his firm, Charles Anthony LLP, did just that as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

    Adeogun-Phillips chairs the Board of Trustees of the New Faces New Voices (NFNV), a pan-African organisation of women in finance and business.

    It was founded in 2009 as part of the Graca Machel Trust, an initiative of wife of former South African President the late Nelson Mandela, Mrs. Graca Machel.

    “Basically, this was a natural choice for me to be involved in an organisation that seeks to empower women and alleviate poverty,” he said.

    NFNV-Nigeria has partnered with world’s largest logistics company, UPS, to boost West African cross-border trade and enhance the export capacity of women producers in Nigeria. The NGO’s board members met with UPS leadership in Lagos to explore areas of collaboration and strategies.

    On the essence of the partnership, Adeogun-Phillips said: “It’s a corporate social responsibility of the firm, to assist New Faces New Voices, which is part of the Graca Machel Trust. The focus is on empowerment of women and access to finance in particular.

    “This particular project is to enhance the power of women in the informal sector to enhance their capacity to overcome the barriers of documentation, access to credit, and more importantly, access to international trade.

    “That’s why we’ve partnered UPS to help many of the women, such as shea butter farmers and cashew nut farmers, to be able to export their products beyond the borders of Nigeria, initially to other neighbouring African countries.

    “As UPS themselves said, they’re more interested in international trade. What they want us to do is to leverage our partnership with them to reach markets that are way beyond reach of the average shea butter, cashew nut farmers.”

     

    Tackling impediments

     

    NFNV National Secretary Eniola Dada said women in cross border trading face constraints such as sexual harassment, insensitive gender blind immigration officials, poor transportation network, customs fees and other unofficial payments and lack of financial services.

    Tackling such constraints, she said, would go a long in reducing poverty on the continent, creating employment and boosting income opportunities.

    NFNV Country Director, Aishatu Aminu, said the aim was to move more women from the informal sector to the formal sector.

    According to her, women involved in cross border trade contribute to market/product diversification and increased outlet for goods produced in the sub-region.

    She urged the UPS Foundation to help with the establishment of incubation centres to give more women access to information and help.

    Aminu identified other challenges faced by women, such as lack of visibility, harassment, lack of recognition of their economic contribution, lack of data on their number and sectors, as well as security and safety challenges.

    She called for more institutional support, implementation of regional trading agreements and protocols, training of law enforcement agents at the borders on the role of women cross border traders and how to handle them, as well as conversion of such traders to small exporters.

     

    UPS pledges support

     

    UPS President, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa, Jean Francois Condamine, pledged to support NFNV towards achieving its objectives.

    He said his organisation would not only support cross border traders, but would help women engage in what he called “long export”.

    “We can help you link with those in Europe,” he said.

    Condamine said UPS would also facilitate training and capacity for women through the NGO. “Knowledge transfer on import/export is very key,” he said.

    According to him, the partnership’s aim was to enable NFNV achieve its objectives. “The idea is to expand this concept to make you even stronger,” he said.

    Condamine offered the NGO the use of its Lagos office as an incubation centre, where women, who are interested in export, can obtain information and get advice.

    UPS Vice President, Public Affairs, Esther Ndichu, disclosed that the organisation would launch a “100,000 Women Exporters Initiative” next year.

    She urged NFNV to take advantage of the programme in its bid to help more women achieve their trade goals and expand their businesses.

    “Our pillar in public affairs is opening up international trade,” Ndichu said.

    Both organisations promised to meet again towards strengthening the partnership.

     

  • NGO, ministry hold schools’ career counselling today

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Strong Independent Inspired Self (TSIIS), will today hold an inter-secondary school career counselling/oratory competition   at Oba Sanni Komolafe Youth Centre, Ile Pako, Agege, at 10 a.m.

    The competition is in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

    A statement yesterday by the organisers said it is for senior secondary school (SSS) pupils within Education District I in Agege.

    The theme of the competition is:  Discovering Your Hidden Potential.

    TSIIS said the competition will enable it to effectively carry out and accomplish its set goals of reaching out to the youths.

    The competition was initiated in 2013 by Cynthia Abojei with the objective of empowering/reorienting the minds of Nigerian youths through creative events, competitions, skill acquisitions and empowerment programmes.

    The initiative had organised programmes in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states to impact the lives of Nigerian youths positively.

  • NGOs empower women, children

    NGOs empower women, children

    Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Help Initiative and Sammy and Kola Foundation (SAAF), have put smiles on the faces of women, vulnerable children and orphans at this year’s “Shop for free”.

    The yearly charity and empowerment event, which brought together vulnerable children and orphans from more than five homes in Ibadan, also afforded an opportunity for health, business and social educationists to select women from various parts of the state.

    Orphanages at the event were Abundance Ministries, Heritage Homes, Total Parentage Home, Jesus Children Home, Kent Home and Tabitha Homes.

    Women were allowed to shop for items, including clothes, shoes, bags, home accessories, domestic items, food and children items, among others for free.

    Welcoming the participants, the Director, Help Initiative, Mrs Febisola Okonkwo, said her organisation was synergising with SAAF because they share the same vision to touch the lives of orphans, vulnerable children and women.

    She noted that all the items provided for beneficiaries were generated by the organisation’s sponsors and donors.

    She described charity and empowerment as collecting and giving back to society.

    She said: “To ensure sustainablility and enhance development in line with the United Nations Development Goals which SAAF and Help Initiatives supports, we have come together in synergy to support the following goals: poverty alleviation, zero hunger, good health and well-being, reduced inequalities, quality education, decent work and economic growth.

    “We are doing this because we believe in nation building through empowerment and knowledge sharing. Because we know that if you empower a woman and a child, you have empowered the family and the entire nation. Because we believe in team working and synergy. Because we believe if you cannot feed a thousand, feed one and a little drop of water makes a mighty ocean. We are here because we don’t only want to feed with fish, but teach our beneficiaries how to fish as well.

    “The donations and gifts we have here are contributions from family, friends corporate bodies in collaboration with Help Initiative and SAA Foundation which says it all. Together, everyone achieves more.”

    Highlights of the event include health and business talks for the beneficiaries as well as presentations by the beneficiary homes’ children.

  • Anambra Poll: Group urges candidates to embrace issues-based campaign

    Anambra Poll: Group urges candidates to embrace issues-based campaign

    The Democrat, a Non-Government Organisation, (NGO), has urged political parties and their candidates in Anambra to embrace issues-based campaign and shun comments that could incite their followers during campaigns.

    The organisation’s National Leader, Mr Kehinde Ojuawo, who made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan, said it had become necessary as the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state draws closer.

    Ojuawo maintained that the political parties and their candidates should refrain from abusive utterances and hate speeches, so that the electorate can know what candidates want to do if elected.

    He  called on the people to use the period of the campaign to assess the candidates and also shun any form of financial inducement from the candidates or their agents.

    According to him, the relevant authorities should begin voter education, so as to ensure that there large turnout of the people on the election date.

    Ojuawo urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to monitor the electioneering in the state and evoke necessary sanctions on political parties and candidates that cause violence during the campaign.

    “Disqualification of the political parties and candidates that cause violence should be enforced,” he said.

    NAN

  • Anambra Poll: NGO cautions against heavy security deployment

    As the Anambra Governorship poll draws near, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) has cautioned against heavy security deployment during the polls.

    YIAGA’s Executive Director Samson Itodol yesterday in Abuja urged election observers to respect all electoral rules and regulations in the course of observing the elections.

    YIAGA also said  election observers should give 100 percent commitment to the process of observing and reporting electoral process.

    Itodo, who also spoke on the organisation’s Watching the Vote program, said it is geared towards enhancing credible elections via the use of data and technology as he urged trainers to be dedicated while reporting accurate information from the electoral process.

    Giving a general overview of the importance of elections, he reminded the trainers that election is a process which involves other pre-elections activities and thus the WTV team will focus on the entire process holistically.

    During the training, trainers who will, in turn, train observers were put through the process and importance of elections observations as they are urged to remain non-partisan in order to avert in form of interference with the election process. Trainers were also trained in the use of statistics and information to tabulate elections result for  verification.

    WTV trainers also learned how to recruit and train  observers as they also learned the use of checklists and other forms used during elections observation. Practical sessions on documenting results and sending coded Short Message Service (SMS) heralded the training sessions.

    YIAGA’s #Watching TheVote is an advanced observation methodology that uses well-established statistical principles and sophisticated information technology for reporting and assessment of electoral activities.

     

  • NGO provides shelter to 99 indigent children in Plateau

    NGO provides shelter to 99 indigent children in Plateau

    An NGO, Societal Socialize Children Villages International, established to meet the children’s needs and protect their rights, has given shelter to 99 indigent children in Plateau since 2010.

    The Programme Director of the organisation, Mr Stephen Davou, made this known in an interview on Wednesday in Jos.

    Davou said that the beneficiaries had either lost a parent or about to lose, and thus, had no economic and emotional stability to secure their future.

    He said that the children were selected from social development welfare offices across the 17 LGAs of Plateau with guardianship from the court of law.

    “The 99 children are in 12 family houses, with 33 in secondary school and 66 in the primary school.
    “We offer them parental care using family-based care model because the family is the best place for the child to grow.
    “We have a mother figure to care for them throughout their period with us. It is a long-term programme in which their education, health, morals are catered for.

    “They can stay with us till university level and leave the shelter when they are self-sustaining; then, we re-integrate them into the society,” he said.

    The official said that the organisation had also trained youths on entrepreneurial skills and secured their internship in various organisations.

    According to Davou, some of the youths eventually get employed in their places on internship.

    He urged the Plateau Government to gazette the Child Rights Law passed in the state since 2005, noting that child abusers were perpetrating the act because the law had yet to be operational.

    “We are pleading for functional family courts according to the provisions of the Child Rights Law because prosecution on issues affecting children’s welfare will be better handled there than in the conventional courts,’’ he said.

    He said that crisis in Plateau had rendered many children homeless.

    According to him, parents should be close to their children, know their friends, monitor where they go and sensitise them to the need to identify and report any form of abuse from anybody for appropriate actions.

    The organization, which has headquarters in Austria, has offices in seven states in Nigeria.

    NAN