The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • NGO promotes Mathematics

    A non-governmental organisation, Race to Infinity Mathematics game, has devised a game that will attract learners to Mathematics.

    The creator of the game, Mrs Grace Olugbodi, said many a student, run away from mathematics because it is being perceived as a subject too difficult to understand, adding that the game was devised to address this gap.

    According to her, the devise, which is a software, could be inserted into computers, mobile phone sets, and tabs, adding that the more a player answers mathematical questions introduced by the devise, the more his knowledge of the subject increases.

    Olugbodi is optimistic that the game would build confidence in pupils and enhance the development of science in schools. She warned that running away from mathematics could have negative consequence on pupils’ entire career.

    She said: “Some people may want to ask why are we promoting the teaching and learning of mathematics and not any other subject. We are doing this because it gives you confidence. I have been in the promotion of mathematics in the last decade. We will continue to do this to enhance human and societal development.”

    Similarly, the founder of Women for Africa, a female empowerment body and partner in the promotion of the Race to Infinity, Sam Onigbaajo,  explained that  her NGO would reward widows, who single handedly raise their children and honour women who have excelled in various fields, particularly widows who solely support their children’s education.

    African women, he said, have made unquantifiable impacts in the promotion of education, they therefore need to be encouraged and supported in view of their landmark achievements.

    “Women have greater potentials that are not being fulfilled, like what obtained in other parts of the globe. Women enjoy unrestricted access to facilities that would help them develop. One of the ways to develop a society is to support and educate women and if this is done, the trend of development will flow.

    “We are going to support women in terms  of providing the platform in their growth; they are the assets we have to proudly showcase. Our objective is to add value to the life of the African women, promote and encourage the teaching of mathematics which many see as a nightmare.”

     

  • NGO promotes Maths knowledge

    A non-governmental organisation, Race to Infinity Maths game, has devised a game that will attract learners to Mathematics.

    The creator of the game, Mrs Grace Olugbodi, said manya student, run away from mathematics because it is perceived as a subject too difficult to comprehend, adding that the game was devised to address this gap.

    According to her, the devise, which is a software, could be inserted into gadgets such as computers, mobile sets, and tabs. she added, that the more a player answers mathematical questions introduced by the devise, the more his knowledge of the subject increases.

    Olugbodi is optimistic that the game would build confidence in pupils and enhance the development of science in schools. She warned that running away from mathematics could have a negative consequence on pupils’ entire career.

    She said: “Some people may want to ask why are we promoting the teaching and learning of mathematics and not any other subject. We are doing this because it gives you confidence. I have been in the promotion of mathematics in the last decade. We will continue to do this to enhance human and societal development.”

    Similarly,Sam Onigbaajo, who is the founder of Women for Africa, a female empowerment body, and partner in the promotion of the Race to Infinity,  explained that  her NGO would reward widows who single handedly raised their children and honour women who have excelled in various fields, particularly widows who single handled supported the education of their children.

    He said African women have made unquantifiable impact in the promotion of education, therefore they needed to be encouraged and supported in view of their landmark achievements.

    “Women have greater potentials that are not being fulfilled, like what is obtained in other parts of the globe. Women enjoy unrestricted access to facilities that would help them develop. One of the ways to develop a society is to support and educate women and if this is done, the trend of development will flow.

    “We are going to support women in terms  of providing the platform in their growth; they are the assets we have to proudly showcase. Our objective is to add value to the life of the African women, promote and encourage the teaching of mathematics which many see as a nightmare.”

  • Build schools for rural dwellers, Joshua urges NGOs

    Build schools for rural dwellers, Joshua urges NGOs

    General Overseer, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun. Joshua, has urged governments and humanitarian bodies all over the world to always focus attention on the plight of people living in remote areas rather than the cities.

    The cleric addressed reporters at the Synagogue premises on Sunday after returning from Ecuador where the Emmanuel TV, of which he is the Executive Producer, inaugurated a basic and secondary school in the country’s Esmmeraldas Province last week.

    He said SCOAN has finalised plans to establish four basic and secondary schools in each continent to consolidate on its humanitarian gesture. However, the schools would be located in the hinterlands, where residents of such places are often abandoned by governments and their wards denied quality and affordable education, the cleric added.

    Going down memory lane, the televangelist recalled that following the earthquake that shook Esmmeraldas Province in Ecuador in April, last year, killing over 500 and leaving many wounded and homeless, he received a vision from God to send relief materials to victims. He added that later God instructed him to commit more lasting legacy for the communities in the Esmmmeraldas Province, noting that it was at that point the idea of a school struck him.

    According to him, his journey from Ecuador capital to Esmmeraldas Province for the inauguration of the project was hectic.

    “It was about a four hours journey from the main town; but more difficult was the terrain. The ground was naturally marshy and it was raining heavily. My aides and I had to mount the back of a pick up van.  At a point, we had to use a raincoat to cover ourselves because of the intensity of the rain. At a pint, the vehicle sank deep into the ground, but eventually, we all made it to our destination by trekking through.”

    Further, he challenged Africa to henceforth stop seeing herself as always begging for alms, particularly from the West, saying this is what has set the continent back for ages.

    “For many years, Africa has enjoyed scholarships, grants and fellowships from the West. But I’m of the belief that we must reverse this trend by giving back to the West.

    “In this part of the world, we have always complained of hunger, poverty and homelessness; but my experience has made me to realise that even developed countries suffer same fate. I have travelled wide and have seen people even in developed societies sleeping under the bridges and begging for food.

    “I have since realised that in line with the words of God, you can only be greater when you learn to give. When we started this ministry, we had nothing; yet whenever I had the opportunity to travel out, I kept on giving, but see where we are now?

    “On our own part, we have chosen to donate even to the West. We have decided to build four primary and secondary schools in each continent but they would be in rural areas where the poor can access quality education.

    “We have also realised that even in developed societies, equal attention is not given to rural dwellers. It’s only schools in the capital that look beautiful, while those in remote communities are abandoned. This is the new task God has given to us and we have also hit the ground running.

    “We are in talks with the government of Ecuador to make the road accessible and motorable for pupils. We will also continue to maintain facilities in the school. In the near future, we are considering offering scholarships to some of the best students in the school to study in some of the best universities in the world.

    He said his greatest joy in Esmmeraldas was seeing smiles on the faces of the innocent children, their teachers and parents all of who now see a renewed hope of education for their wards.

  • NGO to empower women, fight immorality

    NGO to empower women, fight immorality

    A group, under the aegis of Glorious Women International (GWI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been launched penultimate weekend at Victoria Island Lagos. Its aim is to complement government’s efforts in making life better for the people.

    The event was attended by businessmen and women from all walks of life. It featured singing, dancing and presentation of awards, among others.

    Commenting on the establishment of the Ngo, Lady Ekwuefi said GWI is a service organisation and has been doing its best in providing for the less-privileged people since its inception last year.

    She further said a dream she had five years ago informed the establishment of the NGO, adding that it was aimed at building women for the future that would impact positively on every sector of economy.

    She said: “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,’’ and that women are to build a solid home with their husbands, train children in the way of the Lord, that would make them not to depart from it when they grow old.

    She said GWI would continue to organise seminars for women on how to be supportive to their husbands to build stronger homes and making positive impacts to the society.

    She said the dream might have not become a reality if she had failed in bringing women of like minds together.

    She noted: “A dream alone is a dream but through togetherness, dream becomes reality.’’

    Lady Ekwuefi said the journey to forming the group began as friends chatting but as the time went by, they began to look beyond that and formed a committee of friends.

    She said GWI has 28 members both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, noting that they are married women with the same focus to impact lives, mentor the younger ones, cater for the less-privileged and the more vulnerable in the society, maintain physical fitness, grow Godlily women and to reach out to those that are in need of help.

    Lady Ekwuefi further said membership of the NGO is open to all women who are 40 years and who are married irrespective of ethnic background, adding that they must be employed or self-employed.

    Chairman of the occasion, Mr Bob Okonyia, praised the women for living their dream. He appealed to them to remain united. He urged them to know how to resolve any dispute that might occur among them to enable them to achieve their goals.

    The Secretary, Mrs Anajekwu, Treasurer, Lady Chinemelu and Social Welfare, Mrs Ken Okoli said GWI would soon begin training on skills such as bead accessories, liquid soap-making, hat-making and adire fabrics, among others for the youth and women to enable them to remain productive and self-reliant.

  • NGO donates hospital materials to hospitals

    NGO donates hospital materials to hospitals

    A non-governmental organisation, Lagos Island Childhood Gist Group (LICGG), has donated hospital materials, including bed sheets, pillow cases and toiletries to Lagos Island Maternity Hospital and Massey Street Children Hospital.

    Speaking during the exercise, LICGG Founder,  Mudirakat Ajibona, said the gesture was to commemorate Lagos at 50 and to give back to the society.

    According to her, government cannot do it alone, hence, the need for is citizens to contribute their social responsibility to the society.

    “This is our way to extend our social responsibility to the community where we grew up. The group aims to bring back the good old days of Lagos Island, eradicate trouble and project the values and culture of Lagos Island,” she said.

    Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr Donald Imosemi said, the gesture is laudable and a way to serve humanity

    Imosemi noted that government and the hospital “are doing their bit, but the gaps are still there.”

    “Gestures of this nature would help to improve the quality of care that we provide to patients. We encourage more people to team up with gestures such as this, to ensure that quality care is provided to our patients,” he said.

    Director, Admin and Human Resource, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Mrs Olufunlayo Olumuyiwa-Adekoye, said the materials would make patients more comfortable, noting that it is one of the things the hospital needs the most.

    “The donated items came at the right time, it is a laudable idea and the hospital management appreciates the gesture.”

    Medical Director at Massey Street Children Hospital, Dr Emokpae Abieyuwa, thanked the group for the gesture, urging them to do more.

    The items, he said, has come at the right time, to meet the needs of the hospital and assist in taking care of patients.

    LICGG Publicity Committee Chairman, Olawale George, noted that the gesture was part of activities to commemorate Lagos at 50.

    He said: “The group was created to preserve our culture and tradition and to enable our children learn from our legacies. It is our way to contribute our token to the society that made us because many of us are either indigenes or born in Lagos Island. Our aim is to bring Lagos Islanders together,” he said.

  • Water scarcity affects women’s contributions to national development

    Women for Development, an NGO, on Wednesday says the lack of water has greater impact on women and girls, thereby affecting their contributions to national development.

    The group’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Abigail Emenike, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the lack of water also challenged women’s quest to actualise their potential in their chosen careers.

    According to her, Nigeria should begin to put policies in place to ensure that access to water in rural and urban areas are scaled up to lessen the hardships being encountered by females.

    Emenike said increasing access to water for women and girls had greater advantage, saying access to water would give females healthy lives, reduce infant deaths and improve living conditions.

    She added that although many water-borne sicknesses were treatable and preventable, they were, however, leading causes of death in under-five children globally.

    She noted that the Joint Monitoring Programme of WHO and UNICEF had reported that no fewer than 2.2 million people die annually from diarrhea-related diseases globally.

    Emenike said 50 per cent of hospitalisations of this category of people were as a result of water-related diseases.

    “Infants and children are especially susceptible to water-borne diseases because of their young immune systems, thereby increasing infant mortality rates in many parts of Nigeria.

    “Water scarcity, therefore, has a big impact on hygiene.”

    The organisation’s spokesperson said the lack of water also impacts on individual’s contribution to the nation’s productivity, stressing that economic resources were sapped by the cost of medicine to treat diseases.

    She explained that 12 per cent of the health budget of Sub-Saharan countries, Nigeria inclusive, was used to treat diarrhea due to consumption of unsafe water and poor hygiene practices.

    Emenike, who specifically emphasised the impact of the lack of water on girls, said they trek long distances to get water sources, thereby leaving only little time to pursue their education.

    She said “it is saddening to note that most schools’ toilets lack water and separate toilets for girls to manage their menstrual hygiene.”

    “It’s been recorded that a large number of school girls stay away from school when they are on their monthly period.

    “Often, school buildings lack gendered toilet facilities, meaning menstruating girls face another challenge to have to deal with their periods in shared, unsanitary toilets or miss school for a few days every month.

    ‘‘This is capable of fueling lower attendance rate at school, which can vastly affect their prospects for the future.”

    She, therefore, called for improved hygiene and campaigns in health centres and access to water facilities.

    She asserted that new mothers needed safe and sterile conditions to properly take care for their babies.

    “This is because babies born in unhygienic conditions are six times more likely to die in the first few weeks of their life than those born in clean environments.

    ‘‘Nigeria needs to act now so as to avoid deaths and illnesses from preventable sources.”

    NAN reports that Women For Development has been in the forefront of advocacy and awareness creation toward increasing access to water and sanitation.

     

  • NGO organises UTME mock exam

    The Coordinator of Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI), Kwara State branch, Dr Yakub Saheed,  said 104 applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) benefited from a free mock examination organised by the NGO.

    Saheed told reporters at the venue of the examination, Lamp Bearer Nursery and Primary School, Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin that examination malpractice had taken a new dimension.

    He said the target of the AEI was to prepare students for the UTME and to ensure that those who were not captured in the mock examination organised by JAMB were given another chance.

    Saheed lamented that school proprietors and principals were compromising morals, aiding malpractices, hence the need to bring back sanity into the system.

    He said there was decline in the education sector when compared to what was obtainable before.

    Saheed observed that there was poor knowledge of ICT among students, saying that knowledge of ICT, however, was integral to succeed in UTME.

    He noted that resources were pooled together by members of the group to finance the scheme, which is being replicated across the country.

    “Our entire programmes are tailored towards encouraging students’ excellence and moral uprightness.

    “This is just to contribute our own quota to the development of the education system in the country.”

  • NGO holds anniversary at National Theatre

    A non-governmental organisation Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI) will tomorrow present a stage play on Rhesus factor to mark its 10th anniversary.
    The play entitled Bite the Myth, is to be presented in a Theatre for Development (TFD) style at the Cinema Hall One of the National Theatre, Iganmu.
    RSI President/ Initiator Mrs Olufunmilayo Banire said this at a briefing in Lagos to mark RSI 10th anniversary.
    Mrs Banire said the event will be chaired by a professor of Haematology and a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Professor Aba Sagoe.
    According to her, the theme of this year’s event Every Life Counts was chosen to emphasise that no matter how low the prevalence of the rhesus negative status may be, every effort must be made to save every life.
    She said Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service Dr Modupe Olaiya, will deliver the anniversary lecture on Preventing Rhesus disease; an achievable contribution to the reduction of the high rate of infant mortality.
    She said: “Also, we would be having awards for individuals and corporate organisations that have supported us immensely from inception till date. As side attractions, we will be having free blood group and rhesus test, free HIV screening, free blood sugar and cholesterol test and Voluntary blood donation.”

    “Our target audience for the event includes health workers (Nurses, laboratory scientists and community health workers), representatives from National and International Health Agencies, Non-Governmental organizations, community birth attendants, teachers from secondary schools, Rhesus negative women and the general public.”

  • NGO appeals to Fed Govt over N5.6b prison food contract debt

    NGO appeals to Fed Govt over N5.6b prison food contract debt

    A non-govern mental organisation, Alliance for Good Governance and Democracy (AGGD), has appealed to the Federal Government to immediately address the huge debt profile of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) to food contractors.
    It puts the debt profile at N5.6 billion.
    The debt is said to have accumulated over the last few years following the increase of daily feeding allowance of inmates from N200 to N450.
    The AGGD in a statement by its National Coordinator and National Secretary, Shadrack Nwokolo and Jimi Sanwo, said contractors to the NPS are being owed the huge sum for the food supplied for over two years.
    “There are about 56,000 inmates scattered in Nigerian prisons. A lot of prisoners would have been dying on a daily basis if not for the kind gesture of the contractors who have not stopped supplying foods to the inmates despite the huge indebtedness by NPS in the last two years,” it said.
    It appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Interior Minister Abdulrahman Bello Dambazzau and the prison authorities for “a quick intervention over the non-payment of this huge debt so as to avert an imminent stoppage of food supplies to inmates in prisons nationwide. The consequences may be fatal if something is not done urgently.”

  • ‘Create enabling environment to tackle cancer’ expert urges FG

    An Oncologist, Dr Adewunmi Olaniyi, has advised the Federal Government to create a conducive environment for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to reduce the burden of cancer.

    Olaniyi, who works at the Bravi Foundation Centre, Abuja, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the burden of cancer had increased globally.

    “ The burden of death from cancer is more in the low income countries due to late diagnosis and lack of facilities in which Nigeria is listed.

    “Lack of facilities has been a great challenge in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer as most cancer patients here don’t have access to early detection,

    “Cases are picked up at advance stages where it becomes too late to handle and this has contributed greatly to the increase in the burden of death from cancer.

    “Government should establish infrastructure to ensure that people suffering from cancer have adequate access to such facilities.

    “Government should also support non profitable organisations and the private sector in creating a wide coverage for cancer treatment across the nation.

    “Cancer is the most expensive disease to treat globally and it requires support; but if it is detected early, it is cheaper and less of a burden, “Olaniyi said.

    She, however, urged the public to focus on the prevention of cancer by adopting healthy lifestyle.

    “About 80 per cent of cancer cases are due to lifestyle factors like sedentary lifestyle, smoking or unhealthy food.

    “A lot of our staple foods are rich in vegetables and fibres which have good nutrients for the body, but these days, people prefer to go for processed foods that are totally unhealthy, “she said.