The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • NGO for girl-child education

    Though Nkechi Ogbodo was born and bred in Nigeria, her relocation to New York in the United States over a decade ago, was the tonic she needed to have her orientation changed forever.

    Today, she is the founder of Kechie’s Project, a Non-Governmental Organisation that focuses on the girl-child through scholarships, and supply of school items.

    The initiative started in the US in 2010, but NKechi, bent in extending her large heart to Nigeria, ‘imported’ the initiative to her home country.

    “I’m a Nigerian, but I’m New-York-based,” she said. “I founded Kechie’s Project out of a passion to make a difference by touching lives, reaching out to those not privileged.

    “The whole idea emanated from the needy being helped by people not related to them. Having been in the US for long, what I learned is that most Americans have the heart of doing charity, especially with those not related to them. So, with the passion that I have, I couldn’t think of any other thing better than giving the gift of education and empowerment to young girls,” she said.

    As a young Igbo girl growing up in Enugu, Nkechi said she had had her fair share of challenges which were as a result of her culture that places more emphasis on male at the expense of the weaker sex.

    “The American society is a sharp departure from my culture in terms freedom of speech and education of the girl-child. I believe if the same opportunity is given to every other girl out there, though may not have the opportunity to be rich, and can achieve their full potentials,” she added.

    Kechie’s Project began its activities in Technical Secondary School in Uwani Akpugo in Enugu before moving the train to Adekunle Anglican Primary School, Makoko Lagos where the NGO foots the bill of two pupils of the school, including providing them with school items like uniforms and sandals, among others.

    The NGO’s Project Director Miss. said the body is hoping to enlarge its scope for more beneficiaries next year; hence the Lagos outreach geared towards opening talks for possible collaboration with interested government, spirited individuals and corporate organisations for more funding.

  • Omasan Buwa celebrates

    Omasan Buwa celebrates

    FORMER Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and Executive Assistant to the Delta State governor on the physically-challenged, Omasan Buwa, played host to friends and family at a birthday bash last Sunday at the Landmark Villa, Magodo.

    Prior to the wining and dining, the former London-based BEN TV presenter had a thanksgiving service at the Kris Okotie-led Household of God. The Delta State born ex-beauty queen has every reason to be grateful.

    Her twins, Olaposi and Olasubomi, are doing well and trailing their mother’s steps to give back to the society with their NGO, Rehabilitative Interactive Skills Empowerment, RISE, which is an offshoot of their mom’s pet project.

    The birthday girl is also thankful that she got fulfillment from putting smiles on the faces of the less-privileged who form the central focus of her official appointment and in whom she has found unusual companionship.

    Omasan Buwa hugged stardom after winning the second edition of the much-coveted Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria crown in 1987. She later represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Intercontinental competitions.

    Apart from starring in the short-lived soap opera, Memories, presenting a segment on the television show, Morning Ride, and becoming a tabloid favourite, she ran briefly a restaurant named Jazz Bar in Lagos.

  • NGO backs Jonathan on conference

    A NON-Governmental Organisation committed to the right of the ordinary citizens and less privileged members of the society, the Social Equality, Justice & Peace Organisation has praised the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration for initiating the national dialogue as a panacea for lasting peace.

    This position was made known to reporters in Lagos by Chief Amaechi Justine Nnoli, President and Founder Social Equality, Justice and Peace Organisation (SEJPO), while fielding questions from reporters on the proposed national dialogue and other national issues.

    According to him, the national dialogue is of more essence now than ever, citing various ethnic disturbances and related incidences such as the Boko Haram insurgency as one that urgently needs the attention of Nigerians.

    Sir Nnoli expressed happiness on the proposed dialogue givin that his organisation, has been canvassing for the dialogue for over five years now, and maintaining that those working against the initiative can best be described as anti- democratic.

    The NGO chief said that arbitrary assemblage of this multiple ethnic nationalities called Nigeria by the colonial masters is what gave rise to the challenges the country is facing presently.

  • Group fights illiteracy in Yobe

    After an initial postponement of its campaign for the school enrolment in the Northeast, the 1 GAME Campaigns, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has renewed its drive to end the spate of school-age children roaming the streets of Yobe State as beggars.

    The NGO’s earlier scheduled campaign was postponed because of the deadly attack on students at the College of Agriculture, Gujba by gunmen operating in the Northeast.

    Speaking at the commencement of the programme in Damaturu, the state capital, Project Development Coordinator, 1 GAME Campaigns, Agafi Kunduli, explained the essence of having a campaign on school enrolment.

    Kunduli said that the campaign, which is a replica of those held in Gombe and Borno states, was aimed at encouraging enrolment of children into schools, especially Almajiris in the state.

    “We want to cut illiteracy level in the North-East region to the lowest level. Our objective is to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to education which is the greatest tool we can use to defeat violence and ignorance.

    “This is the same state that, in recent months, had seen hundreds of innocent people killed by militants who campaign against what we have come here to do. But if we get all of our children in school, the militants will have no child to recruit, and the killings would stop.

    “Just as we are doing in Borno and Gombe states, we are getting everyone here in Yobe involved. Political leaders, community leaders, women leaders, youths and village heads will all play vital roles. We want to ensure that every child is in school and learning,” he said.

    Continuing, he said that as it was the case in Gombe, the campaign in Yobe State will involve airing of promotional messages on enrolment in the electronic media, advocacy visits to traditional, religious, community, women and youth leaders, town hall meetings and a door-to-door campaign for school enrolment.”

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) estimates that over 220,745 children of school age in Yobe State roam the streets as beggars without access to education. Only Taraba State with 63,168, Adamawa with 141,951 and Gombe with 123,923 have lesser amount of street children among states in the North-East region than Yobe.

    Non-school attendance is highest among North-Eastern states with only 49 per cent of school age boys and 37 per cent of girls of the same age attend schools.

  • NGO seeks role for youths at confab

    A call has been made for an active role for the youth in the proposed national dialogue in the country.The call was made by the president of Akwa Indigenes Development Initiative (AKIDI), Prince Ubong Etuk, at the confirment of patron of on the former Minister of Lands,Housing and UrbanDevelopment,Chief Nduese Essien in Lagos.

    AKIDI is a non-governmental organisation, whose objective is to develop youths and make them have a say on national issues.

    He said government should include the youths in the dialogue because they are the ones who will implement and be the major beneficiaries of the outcome of the conference.

    Also speaking, the Chairman, Technical and Strategic Planning of AKIDI, Mr. James Ekane urged President Goodluck Jonathan to remain focused in order to ensure that the conference does not become a futile effort like previous ones.

    He said:“President Jonathan should be focused on what he has set out to achieve. He should note that Nigerian state is no more a three tribes’ affair; other minor ethnic groups should be recognised.

    “The National Conference should be all-encompassing, such that all stakeholders including all ethnic nationalities should be involved, ” he said.

    He further called on government to consider the possibility of ensuring that Nigerians are no longer engaged as casual workers. . This, according to him, is oppressive, dehumanising and exploitative.

    “The conference agenda should completely look at the possibilities of eliminating the casualisation and contract staffing of Nigerians in the labour market.”

    The group called on governments at all levels to be alive to their responsibilities by providing quality leadership.

    AKIDI urged politicians to always fulfil electioneering promises. This, according to the body, would disabuse the minds of the people that politics is a dirty game meant for dishonest people.

    “They should remember that they signed a social contract with the electorate during elections and need to deliver on their promises, especially in areas of youth empowerment.”

  • Ogun, NGO organise free eye surgery

    Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka has said that sight restoration and prevention of blindness have become the most considered and cost-effective interventionist strategies in the healthcare system.

    Dr. Soyinka stated this at the official flag-off of  a week-long free eye screening and surgical programme organised by the state government in collaboration with Rotary International and Indo-Eye Care Foundation

    Speaking while inspecting the programme at the State Hospital, Abeokuta, Dr. Soyinka assured that government was ensuring that partnership between government and the non-governmental organisations continues, pointing out that the medical team from India consists of highly qualified surgeons. He added that with the assistance of the partners “we are planning to expand the eye unit of the hospital.”

    At the official flag off of the programme, Dr. Soyinka, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Olaolu Lawson said approximately 285 million people worldwide live with low visual and blindness, even as he said that Africa accounts for 15 per cent of the figure. He noted that over 80 per cent of visual impairment is preventable as they could be treated.

    Expressing appreciation to the Rotary organisation and the Indo-Eye Foundation from India, the Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Mrs. Modupe Olurin said the programme which coincided with World Sight Day was a testimony of government’s commitment to taking care of the health needs of the people.

    She further said that the main objective of the programme was to restore and save the sight of the needy, adding that efficient healthcare delivery is highly paramount to Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration.

    While indicating that their medical team comprises highly qualified surgeons from India who are concerned about the vision of the people, the president of the Rotary Club Lagos, Mr. Venugopal Jajoo said the mission of the Indo Care Foundation is to partner with the state government to save the sight of the needy.

    Some of the beneficiaries Mr. Odunlami Oluwakayode and Mrs. Grace John expressed their appreciation to organisers of the programme for the gesture, even as they thanked the state government for implementing such programme for the less-privileged.

    Among dignitaries present at the event was the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Mrs. Foluke Bello.

  • Youths urged to embrace education

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the 1 GAME Campaigns, has said that its activities in Nigeria’s North-East region were aimed at building a new generation of children who will stand against violence and terror due to the education they had acquired.

    The organisation recently launched campaigns aimed at supporting school children with learning materials and improving enrolment into western schools in Borno and Gombe states situated in North-East Nigeria, a region that is so vulnerable to terrorist attacks and whose attackers campaign against western education.

    Addressing Muslim youths in the southern city of Calabar during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, founder of 1 GAME, Philip Obaji said it would be almost impossible for children to be recruited into insurgent groups in North-East Nigeria if every child is educated.

    “I hear some people say the reason for the insurgency in the North-East region is political. Some say it’s a fight over supremacy of religion while there’s a debate about the actual reason for the insurgency. No one has argued about who the foot soldiers are.

    “Isn’t it clear that they are the ignorant children and youths who have been talked into taking their own lives by fighting against western culture just because they lack basic education?

    “That is exactly what I see; ignorant children fighting against a culture that has saved many of us from hunger, poverty and disease.

    “Is it easy to ask an educated child to pick up arms to fight for no meaningful reason? Again, is it easy to ask an educated child to pick up a bomb and take his life along with others just because of a dislike towards western culture?

    “So, you see where the problem is. People mislead our children because they are ignorant and uneducated,” he said.

    Obaji also called on Nigerian youths to play a leading role in the fight against violence by inspiring children into embracing education and supporting initiatives that are helping to put kids into school, saying “it’s the simplest way to defeat terrorism in Nigeria.”

    “Yes the military is fighting to defeat terrorism. But like I’ve always said, military action alone wouldn’t solve the problem. We need to ensure that the current generation of children shuns this evil. That can only be achieved if we give them the right education, which is what we are fighting for,” he said.

  • Foundation donates books to primary schools

    Foundation donates books to primary schools

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the auspices of Ovu Foundation has donated over 13,000 notebooks and writing materials worth thousands of naira to primary schools in Ovu in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Presenting the notebooks and writing materials to the Chief Inspector of Education, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Mrs. Kehinde Oderhohwo on behalf of the primary schools at Urhodo-Ovu Primary School, the president of the foundation, Dr. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh said education is one of their priorities and that the donation of the note books has been on since the past four years.

    Dr. Rim-Rukeh, who said that the foundation is working towards putting up an electronic library at the Ovu Junction, explained that this year’s book presentation ceremony was peculiar, adding that it was the first time the foundation, over four years of its existence, is coming into partnership with the National Youth Service Corps in the area of Community Development Service Project in ensuring that teachers and pupils are in good learning environment.

    Dr. Rim-Rukeh and the Secretary-General of the foundation, Mr. Israel Imide said during this year’s 4th annual flag-off and books and writing materials presentation, the foundation has made available 13,000 note books and writing materials to pupils in the primary schools. He also said that they plan to organise reading competition among the pupils to discourage the non-reading culture among the children as it is currently experienced in the area.

    They said the foundation is currently collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps, after having received their financial appeal to also raise the standard of education in the area where they are posted to. We reasoned that since their appeal was in line with their dream, they could wait to give the financial assistance they requested for through one of the corps, Miss Kalejaiye Modukpe serving in one of the primary schools in the area.

    Responding on behalf of the primary schools, the Ethiope East Local Government Area Chief Inspector of Education, Mrs. Kehinde Owe Oderhohwo; the President-General of Ovu Development Union, Mr. Joseph Ukukor and the representative of Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area, Hon. Sunday Eromedoghene praised the foundation for the donation for the gesture.

    They said Ovu Foundation is worth emulating, as according to them, their task in the promotion of education in the area has, in no small measure, raised the standard of education, adding that the foundation will improve the lives of members of the community.

  • NGO, Borno to partner on education

    NGO, Borno to partner on education

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the 1 GAME Campaigns has said it would partner Borno State government in the execution of some of its educational programmes for the benefit of the people.

    The Project Development Coordinator, 1 GAME Campaigns Agafi Kunduli, disclosed the stand of the organisation during a meeting in Maiduguri with the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Inuwa Musa Kubo. He stating that 1 GAME is committed to offer a platform to enhance primary school enrolment as well as support the state in its educational programmes.

    Kunduli further said that during its visit to the state, 1 GAME had seen first-hand, the efforts of government in improving education, even as it noted that such inputs require the synergy of policy makers, non-governmental organisations, international agencies and the civil society in order to achieve results.

    Commending the 1 GAME Campaigns for embarking on the visit, Alhaji Kubo said the expectation of the state is high. He expressed his hope that the organisation would play its role in order to contribute to the development of the educational sector in Borno State, explaining that the state had recently built a strong relationship with 1 GAME and hoped the visit would strengthen the relationship.

    Alhaji Kubo promised that the government will partner 1 GAME in the overall interest of the state.

    Addressing elders and residents of Bama-GRA communities and representatives of 1 GAME Campaigns at a meeting, the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima said: “My administration will start paying all parents from the Northern part of the state that will enroll their children in school in order to acquire western education.

    “All the schools burnt down by terrorists that stood at over 800 classroom blocks would be renovated.”

    According to him, the increasing case of poverty orchestrated by lack of access to education led to the insecurity in the state.

    School enrolment in Borno State is the lowest in the country with only 28 per cent of school children attending primary schools.

  • NGO trains 170 women

    A Jigawa-BASED non-governmental organisation(NGO), Gender Education Empowerment Foundation, has said it trained 170 women on shoe making in Hadejia Local Government Area .

    Coordinator of the organisation, MrAbubakar Muhammad, spoke at the disbursement of resettlement packages to the trainees in Hadejia.

    He said the women were also trained on tailoring, knitting and weaving as well as soap, jelly, beads and pomade making.

    According to him, the organisation disbursed N850,000 as resettlement allowances to the trainees.

    He said the training, organised in collaboration with the Jigawa Ministry for Economic Empowerment, was designed to empower women and enhance wealth creation in rural communities.

    “Each of the beneficiaries received N5,000 to enable them to engage in productive activity,” he said.

    The Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji AdamuAbubakar, commended the organisation for the gesture, saying that it would help reduce poverty at the grass roots.

    He urged wealthy individuals to emulate the organisation by providing skills and vocational training to youth in their localities,advising that such programme would complement government’s effort in providing job opportunities to youths.

     

     

     

     

    Also commenting, MalamJamiluAbubakar, the Permanent Secretary, ministry for economic empowerment, said the state government would partner with interested organisations to provide skills training to the people.

     

    He said that the government had taken proactive measures to empower women and encourage them develop their enterprising skills.

     

    The permanent secretary urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the money in order to become self relian