The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • Ecologist wants law to ban butchers from exposing meat

    An ecologist, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, has called for legislation to ban butchers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from carrying meat with motorcycles or exposing meat in markets.

    Aremu, the Director-General, Advocacy for Environmental and Sanitation Integrity, an NGO, made the call on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He described the wanton exposure of meat as “unhygienic and dangerous to human health.

    “Observation shows that many butchers, particularly in Abuja suburbs, have cultivated the attitude of exposing meat on streets and in markets.

    “The legislature at all levels should enact a law to ban this habit and punish butchers or meat sellers who expose meat on the roads and in markets,’’ he said.

    The ecologist said that exposure of meat often attracted flies, vectors of diseases, adding that the exposed meat was, therefore, unwholesome and not fit for human consumption.

    Aremu urged relevant authorities to deploy veterinary officers and health workers to abattoirs to ensure that the set standards for animal slaughtering and processing were strictly adhered to.

  • NGO seeks end to domestic, gender-based violence

    Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse  (YIAVHA), an NGO, has called for an end to domestic and gender-based violence in the country.

    The Executive Director of YIAVHA, Mr Pwakim Choji, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.

    He said the call became imperative as the world celebrate the International Women’s Day.

    Commemorated on March 8 annually, the 2017 International Women’s Day has
    “Wake Up Call For the Achievement of Justice” as its theme.

    According to Choji, no society will experience meaningful growth and development when women are subjected to gender-based violence.

    He said “lets not forget that women can’t achieve greatness when they are not bold in their approach toward self-liberation and engagement of any individual, group or institution that undermines their humanity.

    “Women must be strategic in speaking about their demands, rather than their plights. They have this capacity because of their number.

    “Our young girls must be brought up in a manner that they would be able to speak up for their rights from childhood to adulthood.

    “It is only when we have a society where women are free from violence that we can begin to get things right.”

    The director urged women to be bold, take their destiny in their hands and disallow any form of relegation in their respective societies.

    He also called on government at all levels to put in place policies and modalities that would safeguard the place of a woman today and future generation of women in society.

    “Our women should be bold to know that whatever a man can do, they too can do; this will make them to be more active in community development.

    “Women must be bold enough to negotiate certain rights in the society; they and other ally’s must speak against domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence.

    “These acts have continued to dehumanise women directly; these acts ultimately undermine the rights of all,” Choji said. (NAN)

  • NGO raises hope for the poor

    NGO raises hope for the poor

    The Respite Educational Support, a non-governmental organisation, is raising fund to get out-of-school kids educated.

    The group has also provided free school uniforms to schools in the Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State. The beneficiaries are Diamonds Mine Primary School and Ijaye Highland College.

    The organisation’s Programme Director, Shobitan Pat, many children were out of school due to lack of support from parents and guardians.

    “The situation is like a vicious circle; as such, parents were also sent out of school during their school days, thus making them unable to achieve their educational goals and ended up living in poverty and lack,” she said.

    She observed that children from such indigent backgrounds were often brilliant and intelligent.

    “With their great potential, all they require is the financial support to enable them get a good education, so they can make a positive impact on our nation and the world at large,” she added.

    She also disclosed that the group would provide health education to the young people, empower the girl child, reduce early marriage among female and help reduce the “no-fees-go- home syndrome”.

    The Principal of the Highland College, Opebiyi Gabriel, thanked the NGO for the donation. Gabriel said: “They never thought of what you have done today; you have given them another hope to boost their morale; I will enjoin the organisation to extend it to school fees because we have a lot of financial challenges in schools presently. In fact, some of the students are owing about two terms.

    “It is a very big challenge because some of them owe, if the organisation can come to their aids to an extent, it would be gladly appreciated, the organisation is doing a very tremendous work.”

    The Proprietress, Diamonds Mine, Aderibigbe Romoke, said the economic situation in the country has made things more difficult for parents.

    “It is not easy for everybody; parents are no longer able to perform their roles in the family,” Aderibigbe said.

  • Boy to get penis transplant in Niger

    Nine-month-old Buhari Muhammad, whose genital was cut off by his step-mother in June 2016, would undergo his next surgery when he reaches puberty.

    Muhammad had his first corrective surgery at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, Niger, in February.

    Mr Suleiman Makusidi, the Head of Medical Unit of the state Child Rights Protection Agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday that the next surgery would be a penis transplant.

    “When the boy reaches puberty and when blood has started flowing through his penis, a transplant will be carried out; the transplant will be carried out either in Nigeria or abroad.

    “The corrective surgery that was done in February was to reopen the hole that was created for the boy to pass urine after it was discovered that the hole was closing back.

    “ The urinary passage, which was created like that of the female, is a temporary one to enable him pass urine.’’

    “The state government is making arrangements on how to bring medical experts to examine the boy and see if the transplant can be done in Nigeria.

    “If not, we will look at other options like South Africa or the U.S.

    “We are hoping that the transplant will be successful and that it will help his reproductive system because his testicles were cut off alongside his penis; only one testicle was left,” he said.

    According to Makusidi, Muhammad will use his penis effectively after a successful transplant.

    The Director-General of the agency, Hajiya Mairam Kolo, said the agency was partnering with the Community Training and Empowerment Project, a United Kingdom based NGO, to fast track the transplant process.

    “The agency is working toward the final operation.

    “The matter is a very sensitive one and there should not be mistake; the transplant will be carried out by experts in that field,’’ she said.

    NAN recalls that Muhammad’s genital was cut off by his 17-year-old step mother, Bara’atu Muhammad, when the boy was barely a month old.

    The incident occurred in Dafe community in Shiroro Local Government area of Niger in June 2016.

    The step-mother had confessed that she took the action because she was jealous and she also wanted to get back at the victim’s mother whom she claimed was always insulting her.

    Bara’atu was subsequently remanded in Minna Prison

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, told NAN that the suspect was still in Minna Prison, pending the conclusion of investigations.

    According to him, under the Police Criminal Law, the suspect is an adult who is above seven years and therefore can be tried for the offence.

  •  NGO threatens to sue IG, others over harassment

    A NON-GOVERNMENTAL  Organisation, Neo Black Movement of Africa (Worldwide), has issued an ultimatum to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Army commander and a vigilance group to apologise within 14 days for allegedly harassing and brutalising its members at a summit in Sapele, Delta State last February 18.

    The group’s National Legal Adviser, Hope Aliu, told reporters in Lagos that armed policemen and other security agents invaded a hotel where its members lodged that night and arrested them.

    Aliu said: ‘’This is unacceptable to us. Our organisation is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), since 1994. There were similar issues in the past. We took the IGP to court.

    “We demand an apology from the attackers, ie the IGP and the others. Those who were attacked came from all over the world to attend the event. They searched the whole place and found nothing incriminating. If there is no apology, we will go to court to enforce our rights. Arresting any one without any evidence and tagging him a cultist is wicked and unfair.’’

    One of those arrested, Mr Bemigho Eyeoyibo, said the security agents came to the hotel premises about 3.00 am   in a commando form, broke into their rooms and arrested everyone who were staying the night, whether they were for the event or not. In an attempt to run for their dear lives, he said, many, including pregnant women and children, suffered major injuries as they climbed the fence.

    Eyeoyibo, a former national president of the group, said they were dehumanised as they were beaten and made to sit on the floor for hours before being driven to a police station, where 50 of them were arrested and thrown  into a cell like criminals. It took a while before they were allowed to contact their people and some senior government officials and eventually released, he added.

    Eyeoyibo, a politician and businessman, lamented: ‘’We were paraded like criminals; they took photographs of us, which were uploaded into the internet and went viral. The effect was instantaneous but painful.  It was better imagined as it affected our families and businesses. Those who knew us read different meanings from them, instead of being sympathetic.’’

    He wondered why the police that gave them permit to hold the summit turned round to arrest them when there was no breakdown of law and order. He said but for the intervention of the aforementioned kindhearted people, perhaps, they would still be in detention.

    ‘We call on the Delta State government to probe the matter. We’ll go to any length to get justice, if the IGP and co do not apologise and promise to stop the harassment,’’ he warned.

    The association’s President Kupa, an engineer, cleared the misconceptions about the group, saying that NBM of Africa’s objectives  are geared towards upholding human dignity. It is a global organisation, he said, dedicated to uplifting the human race and the world, adding that it subscribes to the ideals of notable Pan-Africanists, such as Marcus Garvey, George Padmore, W. E. B. DuBois and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

    ‘’It is our cardinal objective to support and be involved in democracy and good governance. Our constitution and bye-laws do not in any way condone violence or any form of criminal acts. We will continue to prosecute and expel any member who does anything to promote social ills in any form or becomes an agent of murder. We use this medium to reiterate that NBM of Africa is not a violent organisation,’’ he added.

    He continued: ‘’We want to state categorically that NBM of Africa is not and will not be involved in any religious cult or political crises in any part of the country or in the Diaspora. It condemns every form of violence as we adhere strongly to our guiding principle of Martin Luther King Jr, which professes non-violence as a way of life. Our members are responsible professionals in various fields of human endeavour who seek the best for our country and the world.’’

    Ernest Amadasu, a senior member of the group, decried harassment by the police and security agents of its members. He asked why anyone should be arrested and labelled a cultist when investigations had not been carried out, urging them to refrain from this. ‘’The law enforcement agents should be made to understand that our statues have made adequate provisions for criminals and their accessory. Why accuse a suspect of cultism in a case of murder, attempted murder, assault, occasioning harm or illegal possession of arms and ammunition? If they are not chasing shadows, the system of graft that easily allows criminals regain freedom without any form of punishment after greasing the palms of the law  enforcement agents must be discouraged,’’ he said.

    Amadasu called for media partnership to stop the menace. ‘’If curbing this menace is supported by the Fourth Estate of the Realm, then we can evolve a partnership to enhance law enforcement by the Nigeria Police through intelligence gathering, investigative journalism and also encourage and monitor logistic support by relevant agencies of government and private sector to carry out corporate and social responsibility (CSR),’’ he added

  • NGO fine-tunes anti-poverty plan in Anambra

    NGO fine-tunes anti-poverty plan in Anambra

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) Network of Civil Societies Stakeholders for Development Programmes is concluding a strategy to tackle poverty in Anambra State communities.

    Already, the organisation has an arrangement with a skill centre at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) known as the Centre for Technical, Education Training and Research (CETVERTAR), led by Prof Emmanuel Osinem for training.

    The group, coordinated by former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Anambra State, Dr. Chinwe Anowai, has marshaled out 17 sustainable growth programmes in the state.

    No fewer than 30 leaders of group gathered at Agu-Awka to brainstorm the way forward on the issue.

    Speaking with The Nation, Dr. Anowai, said the suffering and other challenges of the less-privileged and youths are becoming unbearable.

    She said they were taking the bull by the horn in order to alleviate such in communities in the state, adding that government will not do it alone.

    She said, “It behooves on us to take the lead in what we know how to do best, before inviting the government into it”

    “We have started discussing with CETVERTAR at Nsukka, led by Prof Emmanuel Osinem on how to teach the youth in many skills and the discussion has reached advanced stage,” Anowai said.

    Anowai said the centre would present the resource persons, while the NGOs would nominate the participants during the training exercise.

    Rev. Dr. Sabastine Alumona, one of the participants, said it was a way of helping the society through the NGO, through this coalition.

    The goals have been shared to the participants and members on how to develop them and to check their commitments.

    Another member of the group, Egbuna Chuka, told The Nation that the idea of zero hunger is to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

    Also, Nwafor Gloria, another member of the group, said the programme will equally draw them closer to the people in rural areas.

  • NGO empowers girls in four states with £7m

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Mercy Corps, has empowered female adolescents from four states with £7 million.

    Country Director Iveta Ouvry, in a statement yesterday, said the initiative was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and other donor partners, to create educational and economic opportunities for marginalised girls and young women in Nigeria, through its Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) initiative.

    According to her, ENGINE, in the last four years, had established 1,050 centers for academic and entrepreneurial training across Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos States, where 14,030 out-of-school and 4,654 in-school girls are being supported.

    Ouvry noted that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been partners in the project to enable proper monitoring and evaluation of its progress.

    The project is being extended by three years to cover other parts of the country.

    Her words: “Since 2013, ENGINE has established over 1,050 learning spaces where young women meet for academic support and entrepreneurship training sessions over a nine-month period.

    “The project supported 14,030 out-of-school girls and expands their businesses of choice; facilitated school retention for 4,654 girls who have maintained passing grades.

    “Together, Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) and DFID have invested £7 million in the implementation of ENGINE. The investment is part of the UK’s Girl-Education Challenge and NBC’s 5 by 20 initiative, which seeks to enable the economic empowerment of five million female entrepreneurs across the globe in its value chain by 2020.

    “In partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), 11,360 girls were registered for electronic identification cards and over 8,000 financially excluded girls now participate in the formal banking system.

    “The second phase will begin with the extension of the project for another three years and extended to the south.”

    Legal Public Affairs and Communication Director of NBC Sade Morgan said the firm partnered Mercy Corps by providing financial education, logistics trade assets and mentorship, to sustain the vision.

  • Child Hero Foundation officially launched as NGO

    The Child Hero Global Care Foundation was on Saturday officially launched as a non-governmental organization.

    The event, which took place at the SS Philip and James Catholic Church, Idado, Lekki, Lagos, was celebrated with the annual valentine funfair and had over 250 children in attendance.

    The, organization, which believes in the right of every child to live and achieve their dreams without any segregation, has recorded giant strides in its one year of operation.

    The event had in attendance dignitaries including Very Rev. Monsignor Ogunmodede, Parish Priest at SS Philip and James, Rev. Fr. Mike Offorrdum, Peter Azagba, CEO of Timmy Thomas, Mrs. Angela Ezechukwu and a Nollywood director, Dr. Henry Obidi.

     

  • NGO lifts rural mothers in Makoko

    NGO lifts rural mothers in Makoko

    It was a good time for no less than 100 mothers in Makoko, a riverine community in Lagos, last week when a non-governmental organisation, AugustSecrets, surprised them with different types of foodstuff.

    Speaking at the event, the NGO’s founder, Oluwatoyin Onigbanjo, said mothers at the grassroots should be encouraged to make homemade meals for their babies from locally available food items, such as beans, grains and fish.

    She said this would lead to better nutrition for the children and “Augustsecrets makes this range of food affordable”.

    A statement by the organiser reads: “AugustSecrets is a growing baby and toddler food solutions company with the goal of helping Nigerian mothers to feed their children healthier food options, rather than junk foods. It provides recipes online and runs a homemade food range of paps, locally-made cereals from everyday home-grown foodstuffs like vegetables, fruits, and grains. Its major strength is busy mothers with fussy eaters and children who are malnourished due to poverty and displacement.  Augustsecrets reaches more than 50,000 young mothers all over the world on social media with its recipes and cooking tips.

    “The AugustSecrets community “Give back” project is one of the activities leading to the  official launch of the “AugustSecrets Sample Meal plan book that will be unveiled soon, the aim is to sensitise women at the grassroots the importance of healthier complimentary foods for their babies and toddlers. The workshop kicked off in the riverine area of Makoko community where over 100 rural women were educated and encouraged to serve more varieties to their children like proteins and fibre-rich locally available foods and given free Augustsecrets guinea corn and maize mix.

    “The educative give back workshop will spread to other parts of Lagos before the official launch of the AugustSecrets Sample Meal Plan book in a bid to sensitise more mothers.”

  • NGO marches against cancer

    The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), a leading not-for-profit organisation, has marched against cancer in Lagos and Akure, Ondo State capital.

    The rallies were to mark the  World Cancer Day.

    Activities marking the day kicked off at the Police College Ikeja, where a researcher/global health expert, Dr Kingsley Ndoh from the Fred Hutchinson  Cancer Research Centre, Seattle, Washington,  spoke on the importance of cancer prevention.

    Addressing reporters, Dr Ndoh, who is in Nigeria on the invitation of the wife of Ondo State governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, said data released from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington showed cancer surpassed deaths attributable to Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria combined.

    “If we have the death of cancer surpassing malaria and HIV combined, we should have a lot to focus on in terms of our resources and ensure we tackle this 21st century global health problem. We are beginning to understand the prevalence of certain cancers in Africa and by knowing those numbers, we can know how to put  our investments in the right place”, he further explained.

    Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu regretted that many cancer centres in the state were not working. She promised to make cancer a priority for the incoming administration in Ondo State.  A breast cancer survivor for over two decades, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu encouraged people to embrace a healthy lifestyle involving intakes of fruits, vegetables and physical activities.

    The BRECAN train also moved to Akure, where Ondo women turned out in large numbers to mark the World Cancer Day. The event was  chaired by  Dr. Mojisola Atalabi-Oladele, chaiperson, Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State Branch.