The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • Expert urges new strategy to fight fake products

    A former Director, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Mr. Damian Agbanelo has advocated a better approach to tackling the menace of fake and sub-standard products.

    At the launch and unveiling of a non-governmental organisa-tion (NGO), Improved and Healthy Living Development Initiative, in Enugu, he called for education of the citizens to enable them to understand the dynamics and role of the management of quality/value chain of the economy.

    Agbanelo, who is Chairman, Board of Trustees of the NGO, said Nigeria as the hub of trade and investments in Africa, must combat the menace, describing it as an economic cankerworm.

    “There is need, therefore, for informed sensitisation of the citizenry so as to discourage the patronage of substandard products and by extension encourage Nigerians to develop the culture of buying ‘fit-for-use’ products made-in- Nigeria or imported.

    “We believe that improved awareness campaigns, driven by civil society organisations on the role and management of value chain and/or quality addition in the life cycle of a product will greatly reduce the influx of substandard imports and locally manufactured products in our markets,” he said.

    The African Regional Coordinator, World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, Mr. Mohammed Attah, called on civil society organisations to network to render quality services.

    He urged them to close gaps as well as assist government agencies in meeting the yearnings of the citizens.

    He appealed to the founders of the group, who are seasoned technocrats to work with regulatory agencies to assist in fighting the menace of fake and substandard goods.

  • NGO, firm renovate school

    NGO, firm renovate school

    As part of its community development initiatives, Assisting Caring and Empowering (ACE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Transcorp Hilton Hotel, has embarked on the renovation and fencing of Durumi II Community Primary School.

    The founder of the group, Miss Kiki Harrison, told reporters that the aim of the exercise was to provide an environment conducive enough to teaching and learning.

    She said: “We want to improve the lives of the children and we also want to give them gift that nobody can take away from them which is education.

    “We want to improve the lives of the children and we also want to give them gift that nobody can take away from them which is education.”

    Explaining further, Kiki said: “We cannot ignore the state of their learning environment. They have broken chairs, the ceilings are falling off and they have environment that is not conducive to teaching and learning. We have provided all the resources needed.

    “We have come to the school today to set things right by renovating the school and fence the school as well.”

    Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer, Transcorp Hilton Mr. Sola Adeyemo said it’s a gesture and commitment to improving the lives of people living in Abuja communities.

    He said: “That is why we at Transcorp Hilton and, in line with our mission to be part of the community where we live and work, we decided to come out as a team to associate with this local school. This is because we believe that the environment we live in has a lot of impart on the learning ability of students.

    “When we got to this school, we found a lot of dilapidated infrastructure. The floors of the classrooms were not cemented, the ceilings were falling off, the walls were not painted and the chairs are broken. Therefore, we thought that there is no better way to do this than in partnership with this charity group and to really take our time to improve the school’s environment.

    “Consider the fact that we are re-cementing the floors, fixing the ceilings, painting the walls, we are planting trees and flowers around the school. For us, it is not about the money spent but the impact we are able to make on the school and the students.

    “We are not going to stop here. We are still going to other community schools.”

    Responding, the Head teacher of the school Mr. Bitrus Zakoyi expressed his appreciation to the group and Transcorp for coming to the aid of the school at the very time they needed such assistance.

    Zakoyi, who regretted that some of the classrooms that have capacity for about 60 students and 45 students have no chairs and ceilings, said it seemed that government had forgotten the school.

    “We have only nine teachers tutoring 320 pupils. In some of the classroom, we have 60 pupils, in some classes we have about 45 pupils and in the remaining classes we have 35 pupils,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to the group to extend such gesture to other community schools having the same challenges.

  • NGO to lift Isolo residents

    As part of its social responsibility, a non-governmental organisation, Rotary Club of Isolo District 9110, is set to provide water, education, good health and empower residents of the community as part of its efforts to enhance the quality of life of the people.

    Speaking in an interview with The Nation, the club’s President for the year 2014/2015, Rotarian Adeoye Adegoke, said the provision of these social amenities, which would cost about N25million, were part of the club’s contributions towards tackling some of the major challenges facing the area.

    He said: “We want to tackle the problem of water and sanitation, literacy and education, child and maternal health, economic empowerment, disease prevention and treatment, conflict resolution and prevention among others.

    “Our signature project is water and sanitation. We are going to sink three mega boreholes with treatment plants, so that it would be drinkable. We want to provide drinkable water in order to prevent any form of disease and ensure that the scourge of malaria become a thing of the past.”

    To improve the level of literacy, Adegoke said his administration will carry out programs in the area of education for indigents who have never gone to school.

     

     

     

     

    In the bid to reduce unemployment, Adegoke disclosed that the club will organise training for unemployed people on skill acquisition in order to make them creators of wealth in the society.

    He further said that many programmes would be carried out on child and maternal health to promote the healthy life of the residents and to ensure disease prevention and control in the area.

     

  • NGOs inspire grassroots women in Anambra

    NGOs inspire grassroots women in Anambra

    It was not about giving rice and stew condiments. Women, especially those at the grassroots in Anambra were encouraged to take their fate in their own hands.

    Non-governmental organisations or NGOs preferred to provide inspiration, rather mere food. They told the women to play more roles in governance and take up life-enhancing jobs that will lift their profiles.

    At the forefront of the drive is Development in Practice (DIP), an NGO, which organised the event.

    The women came from different communities in the state which took place at Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital.

    The programme was entitled, “Coaching Anambra Women Towards Political Participation and Success”.

    Other non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) that were present included Voice to the People (V2P) funded by UK aid, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Civil Rights Concern (CRC) and Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), all these centres are at Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi.

    It drew participants from various  political parties in the state, with women leaders turning up from several communities.

    Beneficiaries of previous sessions of the programme who now hold political offices shared their experiences at the event.

    Tochukwu Ibe, technical adviser to DIP, said the meeting aims to achieve increased participation and representation by women and adolescent girls in informal and formal decision-making structures in the state.

    In her paper-presentation, on formal and informal opportunities for women in leadership, the chief Executive Officer of (DIP), Ojobo Atuluku highlighted the opportunities women have both at the formal and informal levels to make governance work better.

    She pointed out that a leader is not just that woman or man who is placed at the fore front, but that who can convince people to be part of a process.

    Atuluku further charged the participants to develop the charisma and the ability to stand out in the crowd such that whatever they do will attract the positive attention on on-lookers and the public.

    Also, Dr. Chris Abakare of the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka delivered a paper entitled “the relationship between Governance, Constituency and Candidacy”.

    He drove them to what makes the good and bad governance as well as drawing examples from Nigeria and other parts of Africa and indeed the world.

    Agada Abah, Programme analyst with DIP in his paper, “Contesting in an election”, pointed out the step by step approach to winning in an election.

    He encouraged women to build support and good character to enable them make positive challenge in their endeavours as well as wining the hearts of the people even when they are not contesting election.

    The women also, were made to know that they can make a mark only if they are transparent and have performance in their minds.

    Meanwhile some of the participants told the Nation that they will abide by the rules of the game.

    Onyinye Okongwu of the All Progressive Congress, who is the State Woman leader of the party said they would go further to the remote areas in the state to sensitize the rural women.

    Also, her colleague Chikodi Nnonyelu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) told the Nation that the issue is not participation but implementation.

    She said she would brief the rural women in the communities of the need for them to be active in politics, adding that they would no longer allow the men to run the political offices.

    Politician s over-heating the polity with their utterances

     

  • NGO rescues ‘dustbin man’

    A non-governmental organisation, the Face to Face Empowerment Initiative, has rescued a 25-year-old man,Danjuma, from the refuse heap.

    Danjuma was dumped on the refuse heap in Benin City, the Edo State capital, by his uncle. He has spent over 30 days there before being rescued yesterday evening.

    His uncle was said to have been watching them from a distance as Danjuma was being pulled out of the refuse dump.

    The group’s national coordinator, Curtis Ugbo Eghosa, said he was taken aback when he heard a voice from the refuse heap, saying, “I am here”.

    “He was dying when we saw him. He talked faintly and I felt we should take him immediately.

    “I was called that somebody was on a refuse heap. I was really surprised to see man’s inhumanity to man. I felt we could not leave the man there.

    ‘The wheel chair was destroyed. We took him to Central hospital but doctors were on strike. I took him to another hospital and there was no space; so we brought him here.”

    Eghosa said they would report Danjuma’s uncle to the police.

    A 14-year-old girl, who was feeding Danjuma on the refuse heap, was at the hospital by his bedside.

    Sarah told reporters that Danjuma’s uncle used to beat her but her mother told her not to give up.

    Danjuma’s first words after his rescue was: “My uncle throw me inside dustbin.”

    He said he felt better and confirmed that his sister, Queensly, had contacted him.

    “If I show you my back, it is peeled. My mother’s sister at Ugbiyoko beat me and kept me in the cold.”

    Doctors said he would be treated for urinary tract infection, malaria, cholera and sepsis.

    They said Danjuma needed to be rehydrated.

    Eghosa also bought a wheel chair for Danjuma.

  • NGO reaches out at anniversary

    NGO reaches out at anniversary

    It is 20 years since a non-governmental organisation, Agape Foundation for Literacy and Rural Development came to life in Ebonyi State but in marking the anniversary, it chose to reach out to more people in need. The event took place at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, the state capital.

    The NGO organised free malaria tests for residents, gave out treated mosquito nets distribution as well as sensitised the people on healthy living.

    Recalling how the foundation began, the vision bearer and Executive Director of Agape Foundation, Pastor Gabriel Odom in his address said he was motivated by the daunting situation of hopelessness amongst the rural people of Ebonyi State adding that the drive to change the situation caused him to resign his job.

    “When we started 20 years ago,” he said, “I was motivated by the daunting situation of hopelessness amongst the rural people of  this State. Then, before the creation of the State, life was meaningless to them, and it was palpable. They did not know where to look for solution to their distress. So they resigned to fate. Their illiteracy was excruciating and their ignorance over powering.”

    “The drive to change the situation compelled me to sacrifice my job at the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). It is pertinent to inform you that I had no money or knowledge with which to realize my dream, but I trusted in God who called me for the service.”

    Pastor Odom further said the mission of his foundation is to liberate the people who have various limitations imposed on them adding that realizing that education is the most potent weapon to be used to change the World, the Agape Foundation started at a very modest level by establishing an adult literacy centre at Sharon, then a ECCDE centre at Iboko, and Obegu Odida, which he said now operate full-fledged Primary and Secondary schools.

    Enumerating other achievements of the foundation, he said,  ”We have also undertaken such intervention in Ihie, Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Governmenmt Area. We are also involved in many other areas as could be seen from our five thematic areas. Precisely, we concentrate on the reduction of illiteracy ( adult and young) youth dropout from school and increasing access to learning in the rural and peri-urban areas, increasing female enrolment and completion of basic education, female empowerment, provision of affordable alternative means of livelihoods to Nigerians, sensitisation campaigns, advocacy for good governance, leadership and constitutional reform. “

    “Other are provision of opportunities and facilities to rural and urban neighborhoods with micro-credit scheme to support and promote their small scale businesses, monitoring for the teaming school leavers who engage in various social ills as a result of frustration due to unemployment, as well as empowering them through skills training and assistance to establish small scale industries through co-operative effort.”

    While pointing out that NGOs were doing a lot across the country to uplift the living standards of the people, he however noted that there were still much left undone to reduce the poverty cycle, and the quagmire of hopelessness.

    “My conviction is that the business of overcoming poverty, illiteracy and hopelessness is not an act of charity but that of justice. Justice itself springs from love. Love points to the fact that the most important thing in life is what we do for our neighbors. We as Nigerians must begin to realise that material possessions are really not real possessions. If the many who have been stupendously blessed by God will remember that they owe God the duty to share, the world will be a better place devoid of the pains, distresses, hatred , poverty, frustrations, hopelessness and misery,” he added.

    He pointed out that in Nigeria, government and NGOs could collaborate towards the enthronement of justice and improved living standard for the people as he concluded with a call on government to grant unqualified right to education and decent means of livelihood to Nigerian.

    The chairman of the occasion, Group Capt. Isaac Madaki (Rtd) said he is happy to identify with Agape Foundation adding that as someone from less privileged area he never played with anything that had to do with helping the less privilege especially those ones that concerned education.

    “I came all the way from Kaduna to attend this programme because I am happy to identify with Agape Foundation. I hailed from less privileged area and I don’t play with anything that has to do with helping the less privilege especially the one that concerned education,” the Chairman said.

    He further called on the people to give their support to the foundation so the transformation undertaken by the Foundation would reach all the people; just as he also called on government to create enabling environment for NGOs to thrive.

    Delivering a lecture entitled: MGDs, Rural Development and Social Responsibility, the guest lecturer, Dr C. J. Uweke, a senior lecturer in the department of Medical Biology, Ebonyi State University, (EBSU) enjoined the people to support and cooperate with the foundation so that the mission of liberating the rural people would be fully realized nothing that developing the rural areas should be everybody’s business.

    Dr uneke explained that the role of non governmental organizations was indispensable to the development of rural/urban areas adding that NGOs have made significant impact in the areas of agricultural development, appropriate education with rural consideration, improvement in the health sector, support to HIV/AIDS orphans, housing and access to clean water, information technology and rural transportation, promotion of women rights and civic participation.

    The guest lecturer called on NGOs to when appropriate, corporate with other civil society organissations, government and inter governmental agencies, and for profit corporations to achieve.

    The event which drew people from within and outside Ebonyi state featured lecture, special/cultural dances, debates, cutting of anniversary cake, free distribution of Malaria Insecticide Treated Net and free Malaria Diagnostic Test at the venue.

    The foundation also donated over 1000 mosquito treated nets worth over N500, 000 to families of officers and men of the Ebonyi State Police command.

    Receiving the treated nets at the police headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Police Commissioner Maigari Dikko regretted that most police officers do not constantly check their health condition which he said has resulted in some avoidable deaths.

    Dikko who noted that malaria contributes to the high number of deaths recorded among children and adults in the country stated that the water log drainages and the dirty environment of most compounds in the State increases the rate of the malaria scourge.

    The Ebonyi State Police Commissioner cautioned the State Area Commanders, the Divisional Police Officers and other senior police officers who are expected to distribute the nets to men and officers of the command not to sell the treated nets above N100 to enable those who are interested afford it.

    He commended the Foundation for the provision of the nets to men of the command adding that the nets if properly put in use by the families would reduce the scourge of malaria and Mosquito bites within the barracks.

    The President of the Foundation Pastor Samuel Odom said that the donation was in prompt response to the demand by the State Commissioner for provision of Mosquito Treated Nets to men of the Command adding that the donation was part of its effort in curbing the deaths rate recorded through malaria.

    The Foundation also conducted free Malaria test to officers and Men of the Command and also educated the officers on how best to use the Mosquito Treated Nets.

  • Council partners NGO on maternal mortality

    Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has partnered with a Wales-based non-for-profit and non-governmental organization, Life for African Mothers, to reduce high rates of maternal mortality.

    The council Chairman, Hon Jide Jimoh said, “we offered our gratitude for the positive hands of friendship from Life for African Mothers, a NGO based in Wales, United Kingdom with objectives to supporting African communities on maternal problems.

    “Through the partnership with Life for African Mothers the residents would enjoy necessary medications on maternal health related issues.”

    In a statement signed by him, Hon Jimoh said mother and baby clothes including bedding will be distributed to women in need and health centres in the community.

    Jimoh he is more determined to addressing several health issues particularly the reduction of the menace faced by expectant mothers, “as the NGO involvement will help in reversing minor circumstances that usually lead to deaths of expectant mothers and child. It aimed to make birth safer in Sub Saharan Africa, by providing medication to treat eclampsia and post partum haemorrhage.”

  • NGO fetes pupils

    As part of activities marking this year’s Children’s Day, Loving Gaze, a not-for-profit organisation with 25 years’ experience in Nigeria, celebrated with over 300 children from the Ikate Elegushi, Lekki, Jakande and Ikorodu communities at SS. Peter & Paul School with Ferrero’s support.

    The outfit’s Manager, Barbara Pepoli, said the event was to help the pupils relax.

    “This year’s Children’s Day for the first time gave us the opportunity to bring together children from across these communities to socialise and share a full day together. We believe that giving these children the opportunity to meet each other is the best seed for a future of harmony and cooperation,” she said.

    Loving Gaze has served the unprivileged community in Lagos and Taraba states, through educational activities, basic health care service, women empowerment and vocational training. It comprises 150 Nigerian who are professionals in varying fields, including Italian expatriates and international volunteers.

    “We have been taking care of these unprivileged kids in these communities for over 25 years through various educational activities in addition to basic health care services through the St Kizito Clinics in Jakande, Idi-Araba and Ikorodu. Our clinics run ante and postnatal services, two malnutrition centers and provide immunisation services,” Barbara added.

    She thanked individual and corporate bodies both local and international for their donation and support which she said has helped the organisation to cater for over 1,500 children in Lagos alone.

     

  • NGO to rehabilitate girls

    NGO to rehabilitate girls

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Lightup Foundation, has said it will rehabilitate the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.

    The foundation’s Executive Director Olasubomi Aina said the organisation had begun plans to rehabilitate the girls when they are freed from their captors.

    She said the foundation, a registered charity organisation in England and Scotland, regretted the sad experience the children have been going through.

    The director described it as a highpoint of inhumanity.

    Aina said: “The recent abduction of over 200 Chibok girls has left us and other organisations and communities unbearably sad. Lightup Foundation strongly condemns the wicked act perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect.

    “The organisation encourages Nigerians to stay together in this war against Boko Haram. Nigerians have had enough. I thank all the Nigerians, who have been on the streets and on the web, protesting daily for the girls’ freedom.

    “We also wish to acknowledge and appreciate the leaders of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) for their immeasurable support for Nigeria.

    “There is no excuse whatsoever for criminal activities; all perpetrators of criminal activities must face the consequences of their actions. The ugly incidents of the past few years in Nigeria must now come to an end. We cannot continue to allow some ignorant and selfish groups to destroy the joy of our great nation Nigeria.

    “These people sit down daily to do nothing positive to move our great nation forward. How can people continue to strategise schemes that will make others mourn on a daily basis?

    “They have done their worst and every Nigerian is set to fight back now. We all have been pushed to the wall.

    “Women and men of Borno State, we need to come together as a team as there is a common cause. One of the major goals of these heartless oppressors is to divide Nigeria with their selfish ideas. For us to fight this group, we need to first ensure that we defeat their plans by ensuring that we are not divided in our strategies and plans.”

     

    “We are very much aware that Boko Haram’s actions also have a political end to it. However, our unity on this common cause will end these nefarious actions.” Aina added.

     

  • Security agencies have failed us, says NGO

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Al-Mu’minaat Social Advocacy Project (SAP), has expressed disappointment over the inability of security agencies to foil the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, and the Nyanya bombings.

    The group spoke during a mass protest to the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja.

    SAP Coordinator, Mrs Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, described last week’s Nyanya explosion as the result of security agencies’ failure, especially the security officers who mounted road block on the route.

    She said: “It is now evidently clear that our security agencies are bereft of the technical know-how of modern intelligence gathering. This is why bombings and other crimes are perpetrated with the culprits smiling away, leaving hundreds of their victims in pains. …There are the agonies by the family members, relatives, friends and colleagues of those who have died.

    “No doubt, the recent bombings in Nyanya, in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the abduction of over 200 girls from a secondary in Chibok, Borno State, have shown that the efforts of the security agencies are not working effectively. The fight against terrorism has not curbed the insurgency in Nigeria and such huge security challenge cannot be allowed to continue.”