The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • Anti-stigmatisation Bill ’ll fight HIV/AIDS’

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Education as a Vaccine (EVA), has warned that the continued delay in the passage of the Anti- Stigmatisation Bill before the National Assembly is hampering HIV/AIDS prevention.

    Its Executive Director, Fadekemi Akinfaderin-Agarau said less important bills have been given speedy passage by the lawmakers.

    She spoke during the Africa and Middle East STARS Impact Award for journalists in Abuja.

    She urged the National Assembly to pass the bill, saying it would ensure the fight against HIV/AIDS among children between six and 13 years.

    She said: “Our first challenge is that the National Assembly has not passed the anti-stigmatization bill. The bill has stayed for too long in the National Assembly. It was introduced around 2003 or 2004.

    “Less important bills have been given speedy passage in the National Assembly.

    Why is there delay in the passage of the anti-stigmatization bill? It is one of the greatest challenges in our work against spread of HIV/AIDS.”

  • NGO provides free medicare for Ogun community

    NGO provides free medicare for Ogun community

    A Christian non-governmental organisation, New World Missions and Help Foundation, in collaboration with Jason Health Corps of the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan has organised a three-day free Medicare and advisory services for residents of Kenge Village, a rural community in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The programme began with evangelism, prayer, and deliverance services.  At the end of the programme, over 300 residents of the community underwent tests to ascertain their sugar level, blood pressure, HIV and AIDS.

    Medical experts from Jason Foundation conducted the tests and also enlightened the residents on the importance of blood donation, safe water for healthy living, even as free drugs were provided for them.

    Also, food, clothes, shoes and other materials were distributed to the residents.

    The Baale of Kenge Village, Mr. Solomon Aina who; on behalf of the beneficiaries of the exercise, expressed his gratitude to the initiator of the foundations for remembering them. He noted that many prominent people who are in positions of authority have regarded the residents as “forgotten ones.”

    The octogenarian also noted that the exercise has touched the lives of people in the community, adding that the benefits of the free medical treatment can never be over-emphasised. He disclosed that many of the community members have suffered from high blood pressure for more than 10 years without knowing how to manage the ailment.

    He described the session as revealing, saying he was exposed to better ways of managing his Christian life and health condition.

    Another member of the community, Mr. Omonigbehin Babatunde, who claimed to have been residing in the village for over 10 years, stated that he had been a diabetes patient. He hinted that apart from the medical advice he received, he was also given drugs to treat the ailment.

    On why the foundation embarked on the mission, President of the New World Missions and Help Foundation, Rev. Nnamdi Stanley Ekwerelam said God had given him the vision since 13 years ago with the mandate to help the rural dwellers who are not reached and have been abandoned by the government.

    He explained that the mission has reached out to many communities in more than six states like Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara. He added that the initiative receives supports from doctors, churches, teachers and others.

    “There are no hospital, school, electricity, road in these communities. Although it is the responsibility of government to provide them with these essentials of life, the government cannot do it alone. It is our primary objective to preach the gospel and provide them with other of their needs. The foundation has also helped in giving education to more than 15 students who had no hope of receiving quality education,” Ekwerelam said.

    He further explained that he started a school in Ido Local Government Area in 2008 for the people. The school, he said, which started with five children in an old house donated by the Baale of the town now has 110 pupils.

    Continuing, he said: “Our challenges are quite enormous. They range from funding, transportation and spiritual attacks. We are appealing to the government for assistance in terms of funds and building of a modern structure, good road and sinking of borehole in Ido Local Government Area.”

    In a chat with Newsextra, the leader of the Jason Foundation medical team from UCH, Mr. Ojo Oluwaseun said the two organisations decided to enter into partnership when it was discovered that many rural dwellers in the country lack access to good Medicare.

    He added that many Nigerians in the rural areas are suffering from many ailments and have little knowledge on how to handle their health status, which often result in death or permanent deformity.

    Oluwaseun said: “Over 100 of the villagers have received free treatment, tests, and drugs, while free glasses will also be given out to them. Some with intensive ailment will be referred to UCH for further treatment and we will foot their bills.”

    He therefore advised public office holders to always endeavour to fulfill their campaign promises by giving back to the people they represent.

  • Release my children to me, Zaaki Azzay tells ex-wife, NGO

    Release my children to me, Zaaki Azzay tells ex-wife, NGO

    THE last may not have been heard about the crashed marriage of hip-hop singer, Zaaki Azzay.

    Though there has been a kind of truce for some time now, with Zaki and his ex-wife keeping mum, in what watchers have described as a graveyard peace. But Zaki has come out to break the silence, by accusing his ex-wife and non-governmental organisation, ‘Project Alert’, of illegally holding onto his children.

    This outcry is coming after his estranged wife was said to have barged in on him at his office without prior notice, demanding to see their daughter (the only of the three children left in his custody).

    In the words of Zaaki, “I don’t intend to say much because I had to convince my lawyer to allow me talk to you. You know the issue from the beginning. My wife left the house, two months later, she got some support from ‘Project Alert’. My anger now is with ‘Project Alert’ because they sent her with some thugs to come and kidnap the children two months after she left the house. She took the children and kept them under the custody of Project Alert. Now, with the way things are going, it’s like they are saying it’s not proper to obey the law.

    “What Project Alert is trying to tell me now is that illegality pays more than being a law abiding citizen. They expect me to carry thugs and go and do the same thing, but I won’t. The court has not granted them custody of the children. Why don’t they wait until the court grants whoever it wants to grant custody before they abduct the children? Why I am speaking to you is because last Monday, my ex-wife walked into my office without informing me, without any prior notice, she just walked into my office. I was in a serious meeting with some people in my office. It was actually in a neighbouring office where we were having a meeting, a tenant and landlord meeting. She walked in, and I asked her to give me five minutes. But she declined, saying she wanted to see me immediately.

    “I stood up quietly, took her past my office because my new secretary doesn’t even know her. I took her inside my inner studio and asked her what the matter was. She said she wanted to see Zara, that’s my daughter, the only one that’s with me. I asked her where the other two were, and she said that they were with Project Alert, and that if I wanted to see them, I should go to ‘Project Alert’.

    “I take that to mean that she’s staying elsewhere, while the kids are with ‘Project Alert’. Now, is it ‘Project Alert’ that can take care of my children more than me? What kind of organisation is this? You see, my life is not even safe anymore, because they sent the same thugs they sent to adduct the kids to come with her to see Zara. I didn’t even know that she came there with some people. It was when she was leaving that I noticed that two guys were waiting for her in the car. One was standing in front of a lock-up shop opposite my office. And immediately she stepped out, the guy followed her. She then turned to me and said they were her colleagues. But I noticed they were the same guys that came to adduct my kids.

    “My question now is why is ‘Project Alert’ keeping my children? I haven’t set my eyes on my children for almost a year now. In fact, my Christmas is going to be a black Christmas without them. What kind of organisation will promote divorce? They never called me or sent me a text all this while to hear my own side of the story. Instead they just saw an opportunity for cheap publicity and to make money because all they did was send me a letter after they have filed for divorce and asked me to pay N300, 000 every month and then went to the press. I have not seen my children close to a year now. Do they know the pain that is causing me? Do you know why I’m sounding like this now? These people are intimidating me.”

    But reacting to the allegations, the boss of Project Alert, Mrs. Josephine Chukwuma, said she did not know that Zaaki’s ex-wife went to the musician’s office with anybody.

    According to her, “I wasn’t aware of her visit to Zaaki with three men and that I would ask our shelter.”

    She continued, “Hadiza ran to the organisation on June 4, alleging that Zaaki had become a threat to her life. She showed us scars and all that. So we put her in the shelter. And we were trying to discuss with him, he ignored us. We sent him a letter, he also ignored us. Anyway, the crux of the matter is that the woman ran to us for help.

    “When she came we gave her shelter, because Zaki forced her out of the house. The woman now, on her own, ran away and grabbed two of their children. She wanted to grab the three children, but she couldn’t grab the last one. Nobody can determine custody of the children. The only people that can determine the custody of the children is the court.

    “You can’t divide children into two and say you take half, and let me take half. She has grabbed two, while you have one. Now the woman says she doesn’t want the marriage again. Initially, the wife didn’t want to talk to the press. But then, do you know what Zaaki was doing? He was using the police to keep watch over this girl because he has a relationship with the police.

    “Meanwhile the woman had earlier gone to complain to the police, but they didn’t answer her. When she decided to talk to the press in August was when she thought she had had it, and that her life was seriously under threat. That was when she came to us and said, ‘I’m ready to talk to the press.’

    “We then invited members of the press to tell them that should anything happen to her, Zaaki should be held responsible. That he has been harassing her, using the police. We now did a petition on her behalf to the inspector general of police, and copied the Lagos police command.

    “So she’s still with us. At least she has some peace and the children are going to school. The matter is in court, so he should go and wait for the court to determine the custody of the children. Court processes are slow. I have my lawyers that are handling it. It is not our job to ask any woman to pack out of her house. The decision is hers. She decided on her own. “

    Meanwhile, the matter is due to come up in court for mention on December 11, 2012.

    She disclosed to The Nation that the bailiff has gone ahead to serve Zaaki the notice.

  • NGO launches good governance at local councils

    NGO launches good governance at local councils

    THE Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) has launched a project geared towards engendering transparency, accountability, and responsive governance in local government areas.

    The Community Engagement and Public Participation Project is an 18-month pilot project funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the Social Development Civil Society Fund of the World Bank and executed in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser on the MDGs, Ogun State.

    At a stakeholders’ forum to sensitise the public, KIND’s founder, Mrs. Afusat Abiola-Costello, who is also the Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said the project will promote widespread participation in governance process in a way that people can influence policies of local governments.

    Executive Director, Emy Oyekunle said the impact of local government policies is below expectation and therefore, there is need to evolve a strategy to “provide the opportunity for citizens/communities to demand better leadership, accountability and transparency.”

    The strategy will see KIND going as an intermediary between local government administrations and the citizens to engender “greater access to information about allocation of public resources and the increased channels for public participation in deciding priorities.”

    She said the project will afford communities in eight local government areas in Ogun the opportunity to work with local authorities to evaluate local services, and consequently agree on spending priorities in three critical areas of primary healthcare, primary education, and environment.

    The target LGAs included Abeokuta South, Ijebu-Ode, Ikenne, Odeda, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Sagamu, and Yewa North.

    For 12 months, 84 officials of selected local governments and 120 representatives of community based organisations shall be trained on community engagement tools and methodologies, after which a score card rating the performance of each participating local government administration in the three critical areas.

    “KIND hopes the use of the community scorecards process will encourage transparency and responsiveness through constructive dialogue,” she said.

    The project is currently at the data gathering and research phase, which is being executed by the project’s consultant, BPM Consulting Services Limited. The training will start in January 2013 and scorecard process starts in March, 2013.

  • NGO moves to rescue public schools through text messages

    NGO moves to rescue public schools through text messages

    To rescue the declining education standards in primary and secondary schools, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Save Nigerian Schools, has floated a platform through which pupils will develop schools in their communities without waiting for the intervention from the government.

    The project, according to the convener of the NGO, Paago Aleele-Imabel, is also geared at improving infrastructure in rural schools. All a pupil needs to do is to nominate a school with academic or infrastructural challenges, via a text message to a dedicated code – 35140. “The N10 gained from such message may help to fix one thing or the other in the school,” Paago said.

    He said the move was necessary given the helplessness of governments in checking the dwindling standards in public schools.

    Paago spoke at an interactive session between teachers, pupils and parents, organised by Best and Brightest Innovation Limited at Ajumoni Senior Secondary School, Okota School Compex, Okota, Lagos.

    He said: “Education stays at the background in the scheme of things in Nigeria. The only time we get to hear about education is the moment when results of major examinations are released; when everything would have gone bad. But if you and I get involved by nominating schools through the short code, we are going to pull the resources together and use it to effect a direct change in the schools that need to be helped out. This is a donation from the Nigerian students to the schools.”

    In attendance were the Registrar of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr Oluwarotimi Shodimu and a representative of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mr Chima Akano.

    On the plan by JAMB to introduce online examination, Akano said by 2015, JAMB would have phased out paper testing completely. He added that the exam board had introduced new syllabus in Compact Disc (CD) format, which would help candidates to practise on computer before the exam. He directed applicants to the board’s website for information about the new testing method, saying candidates still have the option to write paper testing in the 2013 exam.

    Speaking on performance in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), Akano said ignoring instructions was one of the reasons candidates fail, saying: “On many occasions, candidates don’t read the instruction and guideline, which always lead to their failure.”

    Counselling the pupils, Shodimu urged them to study the requirements in the JAMB brochure, noting that many candidates chose UNILAG as their first-choice institution without reading further to learn the specific requirements of the institution. He also advised them not to look down on any discipline, while counselling parents to stop forcing their wards to study a particular course.

     

  • Why govt, others should collaborate on health care, by Minister

    Why govt, others should collaborate on health care, by Minister

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate has said improving healthcare calls for collective effort among federal, state and local government; the private sector and civil society organisation.

    Pate, who spoke at the third edition of a public health programme organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sustainable Conversations with the theme Public health: tackling the challenges for effective service delivery, said the government could not do it alone, but needed others to give health care the needed boost.

    Pate identified the execution of plans as a major challenge of health care delivery system. “We make lots of plans for the health sector but fail to execute them. This problem can be solved by education and change of the mind set,” he added.

    He said many death cases could have been prevented if the victims were well-informed on what to do. “The federal government launched save a million lives in Abuja on October 16 this year. This initiative provides basic life saving commodities such as contraceptives, rehydration solution and zinc for diarrhea and magnesium sulphate to reduce pregnancy complications, among others.

    He urged medical professionals to be more transparent in the discharge of their duties. The private sector should come up with quality hospitals that would be of good standards like those in advanced countries where Nigerians run to access quality health care.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris identified shortage of personnel, space and attitude of health workers as some of the challenges to quality health care delivery.

    He said clean environment and a good life style will go a long way to improve the quality of life.

    The Editor, Nigeria Health Waste Consultant in Public Health Waste, Ike Anya said no fewer than 150 million people are in Nigeria with 52 per cent of the population in the rural areas.

    He said women of child bearing age are 22 per cent of the population while children below the age of five constitute 20 per cent. He added that children under 15 years of age account for 42 per cent of the population.

    “It is so unfortunate that in Nigeria, the normal life expectancy is 47 years at most 53 years. There is high infant mortality rate; one out of seven children dies before first birthday. There is also high maternal mortality rate 545 / 100 000, and Nigeria is one of highest in the world. It also has the second highest number of HIV infected persons in Africa,” he added.

    According to him, there are low child immunisation rates and Nigeria is second on WHO weighted scale of countries with very high road traffic accidents.

    “Large differences exist between infant and child mortality rates in different socio-economic groups and geopolitical zones; poor children, children living in rural areas and those living in the north are more likely to die before their fifth birthday than richer, urban, southern children. This is due to the level of poverty that exist in the country,” he said.

    He said data from National Health Accounts 2003 and paths 2 shows that two-third of health expenditure is paid by households “Three per cent by firms, four per cent by development partners, seven per cent by the federal government , seven per cent by state government and five per cent by the local governments. This statistics shows that households pay more for health bills in Nigeria,” he added.

    He said the private sector health care provision plays a major role for the rich and the poor in getting health care.

    On the way forward, Anya said, education, nutrition, sanitation, safe water and employment aret needed, but identified inaccess to care as a major problem because there are no facilities nearby, where there are facilities. “They are not affordable and where they have access and can pay, quality of care is poor because of lack of staff, lack of knowledge and skills, professional attitude and motivation, lack of drugs, equipment and electricity.

  • NGO urges tolerance

    NGO urges tolerance

    International Federation of Ageing, Nigeria (IFAN) has called on Nigerians to tolerate one another in order to achieve a peaceful and harmonious society.

    The call came as the NGO joined the world to mark World Tolerance Day.

    The occasion was held at National Human Rights Commission headquarters Abuja to observe the day proclaimed by the United Nations in 1995.

    Former Governor of Anambra State Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who chaired the occasion, in his keynote address, said that tolerance is ordained by God and is required in all facets of life.

    Ezeife said that our strength as a nation lies in our diversity and if there are no differences, there will be no need for tolerance.

    The National Coordinator of IFAN Mr Ike Willie Nwobu in his welcome address emphasised that tolerance provides a fundamental and enhancing support for co-existence, democratisation and civilisation.

    Nwobu, in his speech, identified ‘muscle, money and mind’ as major elements of power which relate to the law of tolerance.

    He said: “Tolerance accepts the mind, but questions force of muscle and suspects money”.

    Furthermore Nwobu insisted that against many arguments, tribalism, ethnicism and religion do not exist, but interest groups that promote very wicked agenda which facilitates intolerance.

    Executive Secretary of Human Rights Commission Prof Bem Angwe represented by Mrs Tina Nwodu, described the occasion as pertinent and timely, at such a time of high intolerance rate of our country.

    Angwe described tolerance as a pre-requisite for peace, harmonious co-existence and democracy and accepting our differences in culture, beliefs, sex, and thoughts without complexes, he said.

    He pledged the full support of the Commission to promote tolerance among the citizens of this country, adding that the right of one person stops where the other starts.

    The occasion had in attendance the Director General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, National President of Nigerian Union of Pensioneers, Alhaji Ali Abatcha, Representative of the Director General Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr Gbenga Onoiga, among others.

     

  • Osun partners NGO on jobs

    Osun partners NGO on jobs

    The Osun State government has done it again. Through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Rauf Aregbesola administration, in collaboration with Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), has restated its commitment to improving the lot of young women.

    Lately, a business clinic was organised at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Local Government Service Commission in Abere Osogbo, for more than 300 women between the ages of 18 and 45. They were trained on how to write and develop business plans for their business ideas.

    Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) and the Federal Ministries of Finance, Communication and Technology, Youth Development, Women Affairs and Social Development provided a platform for the youth to express their business ideas and also an avenue of financial support to see them through.

    One of the resource persons at the workshop, Mr. Ayo Ekisanya, who is a consultant to Women in Management, Business and Public Service, disclosed that the first edition of YouWin programme of the Federal Government was launched in October, 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, where he said 1,200 youths became successful in a competition. He said the lucky youths were given grants of between N1m and N10m to grow their businesses.

    According to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega, the business clinic which the Osun State is working in partnership with WIMBIZ , YouWIN and others was designed to give technical assistance to the youth from the state ahead of the zonal competition coming up in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital later this year. She said: “What we want to achieve with this clinic is empowerment of our youths. We want to prepare them far ahead of the competition at Ibadan and therefore give them an edge. This kind of programme would, no doubt, help them to be self-employed and be employers of labour. Last year, when the programme was done, very few women participated with only about 18 per cent putting in applications and this prompted Mr. President to insist that this year’s edition should be for women alone.”

    The Executive Secretary of WIMBIZ, Fati Omobolaji, disclosed that 50 candidates from each state of the federation would be picked to participate in the competition.

    Describing the process of picking the best candidates with quality business ideas and plans as faceless, she said participants would do the registration, filling of forms and submission of their business proposals on line.

    The Commandant of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, Col. Oyewole Eni-Ibukun (rtd) said 15 candidates from each of the 30 local government areas of the state and one area office of the state were picked from the Aregbesola’s Youth Employment Generation Initiative, (OYES).

    He also said that the Federal Government’s programme to support the youth would surely benefit the country.

    Three participants among the 300 invited for the programme, Rukiyat Aremu from Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area, Theresa Ogundeji from Ifelodun Local Government Area, and Abake Oyewole from Ife Central expressed their gratitude to Osun State government and WIMBIZ for the clinic which they believed would leverage them at the competition.

  • Group alleges N6.6b contract fraud in Niger Delta Ministry

    Group alleges N6.6b contract fraud in Niger Delta Ministry

    A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), the Anti-Corruption Network, yesterday accused the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs of allegedly executing N6.6 billion phantom contracts.

    Its Executive Secretary, Otunba Dino Melaye, listed some of the projects to include the canalisation of Odoubou-Bololou creek project at the Ogbaba-Gbene Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State at N1,259billion; Land Reclamation/Shoreline Protection at Ogbobagbene for N2.431billion and the canalisation training of Foupolo-Bubu Ndoro Creek Project in Burutu fors N2.37Obillion.

    Melaye said the none-existing projects have been paid for, adding that the alleged fraud would not have been possible without the connivance of the Ministry of Finance.

    “The perpetrators of the deal could not have been successful without the satanic collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs,” he claimed, describing the level of the alleged fraud in government agencies and ministries as mind boggling.

    He said he would petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged fraud.

    The former House Representatives member said the NGO would soon file sue ministry.

    Melaye said: “We will soon write a petition to the EFCC and the ICPC to report the monumental fraud in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    “The level of fraud going on in the ministry is satanic and we will not fold our arms even as our commonwealth is being siphoned in our very eyes.

  • NGO trains prefects on leadership

    No fewer than 500 prefects of secondary schools in Ogun State have received leadership training and human relations skills that would assist them become more effective and influential in future.

    The training was by Wisdom Training Centre (WTC), a non-profit making organisation, which aims at helping youngsters discover and develop their talents.

    The event, which took place at the WTC complex in Abeokuta, the state capital, was attended by various secondary school prefects including: Asero High School, Rev. Kuti Memorial Grammar School, Macjob Grammar School and Catholic Comprehensive High School (all in Abeokuta) among others.

    Addressing the participants, one of the resource persons Mr Wale Adejuigbe, said any idea being espoused by students should benefit others.

    Adejuigbe said as prefects, they should ensure that they influence others by inspiring them positively.

    “Leadership is by influence, the influence can be by desperation for students to be the best, they must prove themselves in any area”.

    He cited as an example, a young scholar, 13-year old Amiya Alexander who often makes presentation at conferences on how one can stay healthy and active.

     

     

     

    He however tasked all school prefects to make judicious use of the platform they have to touch others remarkably and also shun vices so that their dreams are not aborted.

    The program coordinator, Simeon Udeh, said the initiative was borne out of the need to nurture future leaders who would have the leadership skills to influence others positively in their schools.

    “We targeted secondary schools because we believe they have one idea or the other that is why WTC is ready to help them develop their skills, why we choose prefects is that they have authority to influence others.”

    One of the participants, Gabriel Temitope of Four Square International Secondary School, Abeokuta, said the seminar has inspired him and his colleagues to be focused.

    End